Kreun Responds to Budget Forecast Showing Reckless Spending Leads to $5.1 Billion Long-Term Deficit – Minnesota Senate Republicans

Today the state released the December budget forecast, which showed a surplus of $616 million at the end of 2026, $1.1 billion less than expected, and a long-term budget deficit expected to be $5.1 in the 2028-29 fiscal year billion US dollars. The projected numbers don’t take new spending into account, meaning new spending bills passed in the next legislative session will further increase the deficit across the board.

Senator Michael Kreun (R-Blaine) released the following statement in response:

“Today’s announcement confirms what we expected: higher taxes and reckless spending are unsustainable. Just two years ago we had a historic surplus of over $17.5 billion. Democrats missed an opportunity to make life more affordable for Minnesota families and instead spent the surplus and increased taxes on Minnesotans by $10 billion. These tax hikes currently provide a small surplus, albeit significantly smaller than expected, but they are unable to support Democrats’ ongoing out-of-control spending, as evidenced by the large looming deficit.

Minnesota taxpayers should not foot the bill for Democrats’ mismanagement of our state. Democrats have expanded Minnesota’s government from a general fund budget of $39 billion in 2014 to $71 billion in 2024. Minnesotans are not feeling this growth in their personal budgets and cannot afford further tax increases when Minnesota is already the 46th worst state when it comes to local tax burdens.

The spending is unsustainable – it will lead to higher, long-term taxes across the board, and Minnesota families cannot afford that fate. As a state, we must take fiscal responsibility, repair the damage done to our state budget and get our finances in order.”