The release of Governor Mark Dayton’s budget plan calls for $373 million for E-12 education. While that represents 56 percent of the projected ongoing surplus revenue, it is closer to 15 percent of all new state revenue when considering state revenues are projected to grow 6.4 percent or $2.5 billion over the next biennium. Learn more about the Governor’s Budget Plan. … Read More
Governor's Plan Budget Battle Lines Being Drawn
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Affairs Governor Mark Dayton’s release of his 2016-17 budget plan last Tuesday has set the stage for the budget battle that will consume the remainder of the 2015 session. The public’s role — our role — in this process is going to fade sooner than we know it. Now is the time to engage … Read More
Making Sense of Early Learning Spending
Three competing early learning proposals are emerging for this session. In the Senate… The Senate’s universal four-year-old preschool bill (SF 6, Sen. John Hoffman, DFL Anoka) would cost almost $500 million in the next biennium and almost $600 million the two years after that. This kind of middle class entitlement is simply unaffordable and defies all of the research that shows that … Read More
Governor Releases Education Plan
Governor Dayton released his proposed budget for the FY 16-17 biennium that would invest $343 million in education. Here’s a look inside the Governor’s plan for education: An increase to the general education formula by 1 percent in each year of the biennium, for a total cost of $174.4 million. Providing $109 million to expand four-year old preschool across the state. The Governor’s plan … Read More
Governor Previews Budget Plans
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton on Friday gave a preview of his budget plan at the annual Children & Youth Issues Briefing, an event put on by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the United Way and others. He told the large audience gathered that his budget plan (released Tuesday) will include $600 million for children … Read More
Legislature Takes on Education Hot Topics
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action This week the House and Senate Education committees are reviewing proposed legislation on the topics of early childhood education, school facilities and technology. Early Childhood Senate E-12 on Wednesday morning will review SF 6 calling for state reimbursement to schools providing four-year old preschool education. Later that day the House Education Finance … Read More
Priorities Outlined in First Bills Introduced in Minnesota Senate, House
The Minnesota Legislature convened this week and is moving beyond the ceremonial nods to get to work. The majority party in both bodies of the legislature always makes sure that the first handful of bill introductions (i.e. SF 1-6 and HF 1-5) outline their caucus’ priorities for the session. Both the Senate and House majorities did that Thursday morning. Senate Bills … Read More
MREA Testifies Before Senate E-12 on Key Issues
The newly merged Senate E-12 & Policy committee met last Thursday and took testimony from about 30 different organizations representing a wide variety of education interests. MREA Director of Legislative ActionSam Walseth was among the first to testify and asked the committee to go big on an E-12 investment this year. Walseth noted the budget forecast indicates that Health & … Read More
89th Minnesota Legislature Convenes Tuesday
By Sam Walseth, MREA Legislative Affairs Director The Minnesota Legislature at noon on Tuesday will convene their first meeting of the 2015-16 biennial session. Tuesday’s session is a ceremonial day and includes a swearing in of the House members as they accept their election certificates after winning in the November election. The Senate will also convene the new session, but … Read More