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Minnesota Taxes and Tax Plans

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State tax policy that prioritizes everyday Minnesotans can expand economic opportunity, build thriving communities, and strengthen our economic future. However, tax policy can also widen income, wealth, and racial inequality if it primarily benefits those who are already doing well in today's economy.

We analyze individual tax proposals and full tax plans from the governor and legislative bodies, as well as the tax system overall, emphasizing the impact on everyday Minnesotans, tax fairness, and the ability of the tax system to raise the revenues needed to sustainably fund public investments that keep us moving forward as a state.

Research

February 2012

Constitutional amendment would undermine Minnesota's economic recovery

A proposal to amend the state's constitution would severely limit how much the state could spend from year to year. The amendment would undermine Minnesota's ability to quickly recover from a recession and make it nearly impossible to make the investments necessary to keep the state economically competitive.

February 2012

Supermajority requirement would limit financial flexibility, risking Minnesota's credit rating

Requiring a supermajority vote in both the House and Senate to raise taxes would raise concerns among credit rating agencies about the state’s financial flexibility and creditworthiness. A downgrade of Minnesota's credit rating could lead to higher costs to maintain our infrastructure.

February 2012

Supermajority amendment is wrong for Minnesota

This issue brief provides an overview of the proposed supermajority amendment's mechanics and reasons it is wrong for Minnesota. A supermajority requirement would lead to more government gridlock, encourage budget gimmicks, create pressure to increase other revenue sources, impede tax reform, and threaten the state's credit rating.

January 2012

Constitutional budget limits would put Minnesota's future at risk

Amending the Minnesota Constitution to limit lawmakers' ability to use available resources or decide the size of the state budget would endanger the state's economic future. Three proposed constitutional amendments would limit lawmakers' ability to respond to changing circumstances and needs. They would result in legislative gridlock and more budget gimmicks, ultimately putting the state's future at risk.

Taxes and Tax Plans Blog Posts

April 03, 2024

Joint state budget targets set for 2024 Legislative Session

Governor Tim Walz reached an agreement with House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy on budget targets on March 22. The agreement outlines targets of $478 million in net general budget changes, including increased spending or reduced revenues, for FY 2024-25 and $63 million for FY 2026-27. The joint budget targets also set the parameters for final budget negotiations between the House, Senate, and the governor.

May 12, 2023

2023 tax conference committee weighs similarities, differences in House, Senate, Walz tax plans

This year, policymakers are considering transformational changes and long-overdue investments to make Minnesota a state...

April 17, 2023

Minnesota should continue targeted approach to Social Security income tax exemption

In the debate about whether Minnesota should change its tax treatment of Social Security benefits, we’ve sought to draw...

March 29, 2023

House Property Tax Division bill includes transformational changes to the Renters’ Credit

One of the highlights of last year’s tax discussion is moving forward again this session: a game-changing proposal to...