Downey: Budget Surplus 'Strong Validation of Approach We Took'

The unexpected news of a projected $1.2 billion budget surplus for the current biennium is thanks to a combination of "tough budget negotiations" with Gov. Mark Dayton and spending controls implemented by the Legislature, according to State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina).

"We feel pretty good," Downey said. "There's certainly no reason to celebrate, as we'll have plenty of debt to work out in the next budget cycle."

That surprise $1.2 billion will be used in a variety of ways—$850 million will to go replenishing the state's cash and budget reserves, then the remaining $300 million or so will go toward paying down the unpopular school funding shifts made last year. Downey said that first payment will result in Edina Public Schools getting back $2.6 million of the shifted money later this month.

While it does't take care of the entire shift, the $300 million repayment does take care of approximately 11-percent of funds districts otherwise would have had to borrow on their own.

"Nobody is jumping up and down and celebrating over this," Downey said. "Those shifts are arguably something we should never have done in the first place."

The most recent funding shift cost for Edina Public Schools is something in the neighborhood of $10 per pupil annually, for a total of about $230,000. The money being given back to districts will more than cover the cost of any borrowing they'd have to do.

Here’s a rundown of other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators this past week:

Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina): 

• Co-authored a bill establishing a jobs innovation for hard-to-employ Minnesotans grant program and appropriating money. SF2248, introduced Mar. 5.

• Authored a bill modifying group residential housing statutes. SF2250, introduced Mar. 5.

• Authored a bill appropriating $5 million in state bonds for school trust fund land acquisition. SF2257, introduced Mar. 5.

• Co-authored a bill appropriating $12 million in state bonds for expansion of the University Enterprise Laboratories building. SF2283, introduced Mar. 5.

• Co-authored a bill making changes to the angel investment tax credit and adding a data practices exemption. SF2290, introduced Mar. 8.

• Authored a bill making certain special or independent school districts subject to mayoral control. SF2306, introduced Mar. 8.

• Co-authored a bill permitting certain entities to administer unified personal health premium accounts and creating a task force. SF2313, introduced Mar. 8.

• Authored a bill allowing provisional driver license holder to carry passengers when driving for employment purposes. SF2375, introduced Mar. 12.

• Co-authored a bill establishing a technology corporate franchise tax certificate transfer program. SF2390, introduced Mar. 12.

• Authored a bill appropriating $1.5 million for the University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation Partnership. SF2396, introduced Mar. 12.

Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina):

• Co-authored a bill eliminating the corporate franchise tax. HF2641, introduced Mar. 5.

• Co-authored a bill requiring voters to present photographic identification, providing photographic identification to voters at no charge and requiring equal verification standards for all voters. HF2644, introduced Mar. 5.

• Co-authored a bill increasing the small business investment tax credit for 2012. HF2654, introduced Mar. 5.

• Co-authored a bill excluding the first $150,000 in value of each commercial-industrial property from the state general levy. HF2699, introduced Mar. 5.

• Authored a bill establishing general fund spending limits for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 that freezes state spending at fiscal years 2012 and 2013 spending levels. HF2758, introduced Mar. 8.

• Co-authored a bill creating education boards and allowing school boards to reorganize as education boards. HF2790, introduced Mar. 12.

Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington):

• Co-authored a bill requiring voters to present photographic identification, providing photographic identification to voters at no charge and requiring equal verification standards for all voters. HF2639, introduced Mar. 5.

• Authored a bill regulating closing agents; exempting a licensed attorney and a direct employee of a licensed attorney from the licensing requirements for closing agents. HF2705, introduced Mar. 7.

• Co-authored a bill modifying certain requirements governing priced highway lanes. HF2708, introduced Mar. 7.

• Authored a bill regulating the liability of certain municipal employees. HF2722, introduced Mar. 7.