Minnesota budget surplus grows to $1 billion
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minnesota’s well-performing economy has left the state with a budget surplus of $1 billion, the Minnesota Management and Budget Office reported Thursday.
The surplus, though expected, will set the table for the start of the upcoming budget process as Minnesota legislators figure out what to do with the windfall.
Since February, when the Minnesota Management and Budget agency published its last forecast, the state’s economy has expanded largely as projected, aided by stronger employment growth. The job gains have shrunk the unemployment rate to its lowest level in more than eight years — 3.9 percent.
The state's fiscal picture has brightened considerably since February 2012, the last time the state faced a deficit, which stood then at $627 million. The state’s budget reserve is now replenished, and tax revenue is pouring in.
Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/284649071.html
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I was born and raised and still live in Madison. I've never voted for a Refucklican in my life. Please watch the broad brush stokes!
I did not get what I voted for. 
That and is what happens when you have good jobs wages, environmental and regulatory concerns geared to the state and the citizens BEST interests at heart , health care , education benefits , tourism and you look at the above Title it say it all, I am truly proud of this state and love this state for looking past the fear and hate-------
not like in;
Wis----CON---SIN;
(how's the job picture in your state doing for you now and your criminal governor treating you like scum of the earth, spreading more hate and fear to keep his job, which he won by proxy, 37th in job creation, no high speed train service to Chicago to create jobs, but he attack UNIONS and FARMERS and blame them for your ills, like NO BUDGET SURPLUS .
I forgot he and your legislature your right wing republicans that do nothing except get phone calls from KOCH brother bidder, remember the fake phone call)
Go Minnesota keep up the good work look
With cash and fairy tales
So much pristine land the rivers and lakes
little ones to Superior with a sane and successful government .
They will target MN - stay strong for the fallen midwest ( Mich , Wisc etc.)
& show an alternative to Koch madness
There has been over 14 Democratic and Democratic Farmer Labor governors in the state, and 25 republicans and then, they had Tim Pawlenty for over eight years and a republican controlled legislature.
He and his band of merry men raided the Education fund and promised there pie in the sky rhetoric of lower taxes in its short falls on funding or lack of there of.
But now you have a legislature and a Democratic Governor which is saying to those that have the means and the wealth you have to pay your fair share on earned income---plain and simple, no tax cuts being subsidized by blaming the poor and the middle class like Pawlenty and crew.
They have said you will help fund the education and other programs from your wealth just like everyone else has too, this is not a one side shop of the haves not paying, and the have not paying everything .
They Pawlenty treated the education bond fund and other programs like it were a HEDGE FUNDS, so lets put the blame squarely on his and on there shoulders of those still the state government who are republican and who keep getting re-elected to bring this stuff back and they now have former governor turned lobbyists called Pawlenty not being held accountable for this issue, which he should and others of his ilk 
