Gov. Mark Dayton is urging his fellow DFLers to vote down a GOP proposal designed to emulate his tax increase plan. In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, Dayton called on legislators to "reject this charade."

Rep. Greg Davids, chair of the Taxes Committee, is upset about a delay in the release of the 2011 tax incidence study by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. In a letter sent Monday to assistant Revenue commissioner Matt Massman, Davids criticizes the agency for failing to meet the March 1 deadline for the biennial report.

The February forecast showed some hints of sunshine for Minnesota's budget troubles. The state's projected deficit for the next two-year budget cycle fell to $5 billion, a dip of nearly $1.2 billion from the previous estimate.

Gov. Mark Dayton wants to impose a statewide property tax of just over one percent on homes that are worth more than $1 million. The proposal is estimated to take in $84 million in the 2012-13 budget cycle.

Gov. Mark Dayton vowed to resolve the state's $6.2 billion budget deficit while averting a government shutdown in his inaugural State of the State Address. The first-term governor also reiterated pledges to increase funding for K-12 education, enact a $1 billion bonding bill and raise taxes on the state's wealthiest residents.

Republicans have reduced the amount of 2011 cuts in their first budget bill to $100 million. The change was adopted as an amendment during the conference committee meeting on the bill, which aims to reduce the state's budget deficit by nearly $1 billion.

Minnesota is facing a fiscal mess. That much has been evident for a long time.

I wanted to add a footnote to the grim reports about the state’s future general fund and unemployment insurance deficits I’ve posted here this week. ...

The likely impact of the fiscal hole left in Minnesota’s finances when Gov. Tim Pawlenty exits stage right a year and a half from now ...

The likely impact of the fiscal hole left in Minnesota’s finances when Gov. Tim Pawlenty exits stage right a year and a half from now ...