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How the budget-cutting plans stack up
January 27, 2003

How the budget cuts of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the DFL-led Senate and the Republican-led House stack up. Their task was to cover a $356 million deficit for the final five months of this fiscal year. Some figures are rounded.

St. Paul, Minn. — TOTAL PACKAGE

GOVERNOR: $468.2 million (including $112 million for a reserve)
HOUSE: $468.2 million (including $112 million for a reserve)
SENATE: $384 million (including $28 million for a reserve)

K-12 EDUCATION

All three avoid cutting basic classroom aid to schools, but make grant reductions and trim the education department's operating budget
GOVERNOR: $4.7 million
HOUSE: $7.5 million
SENATE: $4.7 million

TAXES

All three plans would delay a sales tax refund to businesses that upgrade equipment, a shift that yields $50 million in savings. No general tax increases.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

All three change or cut money for programs that help Minnesotans on welfare, in nursing homes or need state-aided health assistance.
GOVERNOR: $38.9 million
HOUSE: $45.6 million
SENATE: $53 million (much of it by delaying payments)

ENVIRONMENT

All three achieve savings mostly by reducing agency and board budgets and tapping a solid waste fund.

GOVERNOR: $22.4 million
HOUSE: $22.4 million
SENATE: $15.8 million

AGRICULTURE:

This is one of the main areas of difference, primarily over the size of cuts to state ethanol subsidies. Agency budgets and grants are cut in each plan.

GOVERNOR: $29.2 million
HOUSE: $8.3 million
SENATE: $3.2 million

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The disparity in this area relates to how each treats a $59 million Iron Range development fund, with the House taking the most from that account and the Senate taking none.

GOVERNOR: $63.6 million
HOUSE: $73.7 million
SENATE: $17.5 million

JUDICIARY/CORRECTIONS

They're close in numbers, but differ greatly on where the money comes from. One point of contention is a Senate proposal to house some state inmates in county jails.

GOVERNOR: $13.1 million
HOUSE: $12.9 million
SENATE: $12.2 million

TRANSPORTATION

The plans are virtually identical and all depend on borrowing to pay for road projects for which cash was previously appropriated.

GOVERNOR: $148.4 million
HOUSE: $148.4 million
SENATE: $145.8 million

STATE GOVERNMENT

Budget cuts hit an array of agencies and boards. Proposals by Pawlenty and the House also include provisions to require shorter work days for some state employees and permit government to farm out more services to the private sector.

GOVERNOR: $10.1 million
HOUSE: $12.6 million
SENATE: $25.7 million

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Pawlenty and the House would cancel some projects and capture unspent money. GOVERNOR: $7.6 million
HOUSE: $5.4 million
SENATE: 0

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