MN Gov. Walz proposes $300M for public safety, $1B for affordable housing in budget plan
Fox News
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz unveiled plans for spending on public safety, housing, and healthcare Monday as parts of his administration's budget proposal.
Walz's overall general fund budget is expected to total in the high $50 billion range, while one-time spending from the state's $17.6 billion surplus could boost the complete package to over $60 billion. While he has made education his top priority, he reiterated Monday that his budget proposal will include some kind of rebates to taxpayers from the enormous surplus, which he said could make the difference between being evicted or not for some struggling renters.
The proposed $300 million for public safety would go to cities, counties and tribal governments across the state, based on their population, and they would get wide latitude in deciding how to spend it. Walz made a similar proposal last spring, but the Legislature was divided then between a Republican-controlled Senate and a Democratic-led house. The idea stalled and most of the surplus went unspent amid partisan stalemates. But Walz's fellow Democrats now control both chambers.