State government finance conferees sign report, bill now primed for floor action

Still including major reductions to current spending levels, the conference committee for the omnibus state government finance bill finalized its report late Monday night, making it available for action on the floor.

Sponsored by Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth) and Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), HF691/SF605* emphasizes reducing the overall size of state government while increasing benefits to military and veterans affairs. Some of the largest spending reductions focus on the Department of Revenue and Minnesota Management and Budget.

Last time the conference committee met, appointees of Gov. Mark Dayton said the cuts were too drastic — and would result in hundreds of state employee layoffs and reductions in service — while Anderson and Kiffmeyer contend their proposal would streamline government and protect taxpayers.

The conference committee didn’t meet to approve the changes; members simply signed the report.

Some spending reductions in the committee’s report include:

• an $11.16 million reduction in MMB’s operating expenses;
• canceling the designated $7.16 million for the James Metzen Mighty Ducks Program back into the General Fund;
• eliminating the public subsidy program for campaigns, a savings of $2.67 million in the next two biennia; and
• cutting the Department of Human Rights by $416,000. Dayton proposed a $3.29 million increase.

The report contains $10 million for a new veterans’ home and would spend $700,000 on the Veterans’ Journey Home program, along with increasing military affairs spending by $6 million for tuition reimbursement and retention bonuses. Although the Senate initially included spending $1 million for the new Duluth veterans’ cemetery, the conference agreement doesn’t include it.

Also included are a one-time $1.5 million expenditure for the Minnesota Historical Society’s digital preservation project and an ongoing $800,000 to establish a legislative budget office.