The 2021 Minnesota Legislative session recently got underway in St. Paul, and the main task for legislators this session will be setting the next two-year state budget amid serious economic instability due to COVID-19.  KAUS News spoke with State District 27A Representative Peggy Bennett, a Republican from Albert Lea who stated that she will wait to sign on to or author any bills that have any fiscal impact until another budget forecast is released in late February…

Minnesota Management and Budget officials recently released the latest state economic forecast, which determined that the state’s expected budget deficit has been replaced with a projected $641 million surplus for the current biennium that ends June 30, 2021.  The forecast expected to be released in late February will provide more updated numbers to help legislators and Governor Tim Walz finalize their plans for spending in the 2022-23 biennium that begins July 1, 2021. A $1.27 billion budget shortfall is now forecast for that two-year spending cycle.