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MR




*December 12, 2023*

Legislative Update

Forecast Shows Looming Deficit

Last week, Minnesota Management and Budget [ [link removed] ] announced a projected?$2.4 billion surplus [ [link removed] ]?for the current biennium. Unfortunately, if that surplus gets spent, it will turn into a $2.3 billion shortfall beginning in 2025 because of rising costs of state services.?This news comes on the heels of a session where the legislature passed the largest budget in state history at $72 billion, which was a 40% increase in spending from the $52 billion-dollar prior budget.

Among the areas that are coming in higher than budgeted is education, which is $205 million over budget for the current biennium and $112 million over budget for the next biennium, because of higher than anticipated enrollment?(nearly 5000 more many of whom are non-English speaking students),?requiring a?need for extra services, and the free school lunch program being used by more students than the fiscal prediction.

Also, health and human services spending is significantly above budget, at $495?million?more this biennium and $564?million?more next biennium. State budget officials attribute this increase to rising costs of home- and community-based disability services, home health aides, and other long term care services.

Budget officials also anticipate growth in the state government's workforce, including adding newly created state agencies and programs, such as the state?s mandated Paid Family and Medical Leave Program requiring a minimum of 400 new state employees and the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management,?as well as more expensive labor contracts for many of those employees.

East Central Minnesota Habitat For Humanity

I was recently asked to be the Executive Director for the?East Central Minnesota Habitat For Humanity, which serves?Pine, Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec, Mille Lacs counties. The job will be on a part-time basis.

The pandemic was devastating on so many levels. East Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity has been unable to build even one house over the past two years due to lack of funding and local volunteer support. This year, the ECM Habitat for Humanity?plan to?build the first house in?two?years in Sandstone, MN. My vision is to relaunch the organization, reconnect with those who have previously supported the organization, and make new connections throughout the five-county area.?The vast majority of my work will be done remotely from my home office in Maple Lake. The pandemic has left us all very capable to communicate and work through electronic means.

For nearly a year my new husband, Senator Jason Rarick had been telling me about the dire situation the local Habit for Humanity organization is in. I began to see that with my years of experience in non-profits, business and at the legislature, I was uniquely positioned to help save the organization from closing. I met with the previous executive director and the full Board of Directors and shared my experience and passion. I am honored that they unanimously agreed that I was the right person for the job.

I will continue to?live in Maple Lake and will continue to?serve my constituents?both in person and through electronic communications. I?will be seeking another term as I balance my part-time work with the ECM Habitat for Humanity setting them on a better path forward.?As we are a part-time citizen legislature, most of my colleagues work outside of the Legislature. I?look forward to serving local communities both in the legislature and through Habitat for Humanity!






Please Contact Me

As always, if you need assistance on an issue pertaining to state government or have concerns or ideas about legislation, my office is available to you. You can e-mail at [email protected] or call my office at 651-296-5063 [ tel:6512965063 ]. You can also write a letter to me. My office address at the Capitol is 357 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.

MR












357 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.5063







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