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FACT BRIEF

Did Minnesota’s state budget increase nearly 40% in 2023?

By Tom Kertscher
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YES

In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature approved and Gov. Tim Walz signed a 2023-25 state budget of $72 billion.

That spends 38.4% more than the previous two-year budget of $52 billion.

The new budget period started July 1, 2023.

Walz is a Democrat and the Legislature is majority Democrat.

The $72 billion budget tapped a $17.5 billion budget surplus and raised billions in tax revenues. It gave lower- and middle-income residents $1.1 billion in tax rebates and $1.4 billion in expanded tax credits, according to news reports.

Republicans pushed for bigger rebates and more permanent tax cuts.

Wisconsin’s 2023-25 $99 billion state budget was a 13% increase over the previous budget of $87.5 billion. Gov. Tony Evers is a Democrat, while the Legislature is majority Republican.

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, made the 40% claim on May 18, 2024, at the Wisconsin Republican Convention.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Associated Press Minnesota Legislature adjourns after passing $72B budget; Democrats celebrate as GOP hits tax hikes
Pioneer Press Walz signs $72 billion Minnesota budget: ‘We’re leaving no one behind’
Associated Press Walz, legislative leaders reach $52 billion budget deal
Pioneer Press What’s in MN’s $72B budget and what else lawmakers approved
PBS Wisconsin Evers Signs Wisconsin's 2021-23 Budget with 50 Partial Vetoes
WisconsinEye 2024 Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.