This week, Governor Dayton unveiled a $60 million supplemental budget proposal for the current biennium. The proposal includes reimbursement to state and local police officers for buying bulletproof vests, funds Jobs initiatives, expands the Veterans GI bill, reverses some of the deepest cuts to the our vulnerable and disabled citizens and helps in the effort to control the spread of Asian Carp. The Governor recognizes the need and recommends closing tax loopholes for corporations operating overseas to fund these proposals.

One of these proposals relates to public safety and protection of law enforcement officers. The fund which used to reimburse officers or local departments for bulletproof vests has been depleted and the Governor’s budget replenishes it in the amount of $515,000 so that outstanding and projected reimbursements are paid in full through the end of biennium.

The budget appropriates $35 million to help put veterans, students, and the unemployed back to work with a Jobs Now Tax Credit. Also included is additional $10 million for the Minnesota Investment Fund to help companies locate and expand in Minnesota and would support expansion of the FastTRAC program, an initiative that helps train educationally under prepared adults with new, specific skills for well-paying careers in high demand fields.

With more veterans returning from the wars in the Mideast, it is essential to be prepared to assist in their re-entry into the civilian world. The Governor’s proposal increases benefits for veterans by providing $915,000 for an expansion of the Veterans GI bill, $1.05 million for increased funding for County Veterans Service Officers, and $100,000 to fund honor guard services.

Cuts from the special session budget agreement hit Minnesota’s vulnerable residents extremely hard in the area of Human Services. The Governor proposes some of the harshest cuts be restored including: $5.9 million for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program, $6.4 million for medical education research and $4.7 million for emergency life-saving care like chemotherapy and dialysis for the very sick.

Additionally, the Governor’s supplemental budget includes $4 million to fighting invasive species, particularly the spread of Asian Carp. Recently, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials confirmed that two types of Asian carp were caught in the Mississippi River near Winona. This is an urgent situation and can cause serious ecological problems as we’ve seen in other states.

The Governor’s supplemental budget highlights the needs and shortcomings currently in the budget. His supplemental budget takes a responsible approach to fill in these gaps. His plan for securing funds for these items would come from closing corporate loopholes which sends money out of Minnesota. His request for these additional budget items will not cause increased taxes on individuals or homeowners.