Governor Walz Unveils $226 Million Plan
Walz Emphasizes Caution in Allocating State’s Excess Funds
According to Axios, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has shared a new plan to spend $226 million plan more from the state’s big $3.7 billion extra money. Even though there’s a lot of extra cash experts warn against using too much to avoid money problems later. Walz wants to be careful and calls his plan a “smaller, intentional” addition to the budget keeping about $3.5 billion of the extra money safe. He’s doing this because the state already planned its spending for the next two years in 2023.
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$226 Million Plan Prioritizes Social Welfare and Infrastructure Investments
Walz’s plan includes $16 million for child protection, water quality improvement, and rural ambulance support. Another $45 million is earmarked for a pilot program providing upfront payments to families to fight child poverty. Additionally, $989 million is allocated for major projects, with cautious borrowing to avoid excessive debt. While some priorities, like free school meals, are absent, Walz sees this $226 million plan as the start of discussions. Leaders will set spending limits by May 20 aiming for smart choices to maximize impact while managing the $226 million plan.