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