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Rasmusson and Backer Slam Democrats After New Budget Forecast is Released

By Derek Sidian Mar 7, 2025 | 10:11 AM

Representative Jeff Backer and Senator Jordan Rasmusson

St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) has released its annual February revenue forecast, and state officials are concerned.

Compared to the previous forecast, the latest numbers show a smaller $456 million surplus at the end of 2026 and a larger $6 billion deficit by 2029.

“The new budget forecast raises serious concerns for Minnesota,” Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) said. “Our projected deficit has ballooned to $6 billion, while the current surplus has shrunk to just $456 million. We shouldn’t be surprised by this deficit after a nearly 40% increase in state government spending under Governor Walz and Democratic legislative majorities. This session, we must prioritize a balanced budget that puts the needs of Minnesotans first. We need to focus on finding genuine savings and more efficient spending—not shifting costs onto counties, as the governor has proposed.”

Representative Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley) says, “Minnesotans deserve responsible leadership, not reckless spending that leads to deficits. Over the last two years, one-party Democrat control turned an $18 billion surplus into a $6 billion deficit by prioritizing wasteful projects over fiscal responsibility. Now, it’s up to Republicans to clean up this mess and put Minnesota back on a path to stability and growth.”

The February forecast will serve as a guide for the Minnesota Legislature in creating the upcoming two-year budget before the session deadline on May 19th.

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