Forecasts and economic updates
Minnesota Management and Budget prepares economic forecasts of projected state revenues and expenditures in November and February each year. Forecast information is used by policymakers to ensure that enacted budgets remain on track and in balance, and to plan for future budgets.
Minnesota Management and Budget also prepares quarterly Economic Updates in January, April, July, and October each year. These updates are not formal forecasts but instead report on year-to-date revenue collections compared to previous forecasts, and make note of any significant economic or revenue developments that have occurred since the last formal forecast.
Governor’s budget
Each odd-numbered legislative session, the governor proposes a two-year operating budget for the State of Minnesota. It includes proposed spending in areas such as education, transportation, health care and human services, public safety, natural resources, economic development, higher education, and other areas. In the even-numbered session, the governor may propose changes to the existing operating budget through a supplemental budget.
The governor’s proposed budget documents describe the budget as proposed by the governor. They are not updated to reflect the budget actually passed by the Legislature. For the results of legislative budget decisions, see House Fiscal Analysis’s Summary of the Fiscal Actions of the Legislature.
Capital budget (governor’s bonding proposal)
Capital budgets finance land acquisition, repair, renovation and construction of facilities and capital assets, largely through the issuance of state general obligation bonds. Capital budgets are normally passed during even-numbered legislative sessions.
House Fiscal Analysis prepares an overview of the capital budget as it was passed by the Legislature in their Summary of the Capital Budget.
Price of Government
Minnesota Management and Budget regularly calculates Minnesota’s Price of Government, a comprehensive measure of nearly all revenues collected by state and local governments, including school districts, as a share of personal income.
Tax resources
The Tax Incidence Study answers the question, “Who pays Minnesota’s taxes?” It reports detailed information on the household characteristics and taxes paid by Minnesotans, and is updated by the Minnesota Department of Revenue every two years.
The Department of Revenue’s Tax Expenditure Budget outlines tax provisions that provide preferential treatment for certain persons, types of income, transactions, or property, and that result in reduced tax revenue.
The Minnesota Tax Handbook contains a summary of the state and local tax system in Minnesota. It contains a profile of each state tax including tax base, rates, collection amounts, and legislative history. The second section profiles each local tax in a similar manner. The last section contains summary tables of state and local tax collections.
Legislative tracking sheets
Each legislative session, House Fiscal Analysis creates tracking sheets that record executive and legislative budget decisions. Tracking sheets are available for each finance committee.
Fiscal notes
A fiscal note estimates the financial impact of proposed legislation. The Legislative Budget Office maintains and oversees the fiscal note system. Fiscal notes are prepared with input from state agency staff.
Fiscal notes for tax bills (called revenue analyses) are prepared by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Additional resources