Time changed for budget meeting

Talk about it

The time of a public meeting in Alexandria to discuss the governor’s budget proposals has been changed.

It will now take place at 4 p.m. at the Alexandria City Hall on Friday, February 20.

Legislators’ main job this session is to pass a two-year budget that will spend about $33 billion. That is hampered by an economic recession that likely will result in a $7 billion state budget shortfall.

Minnesota senators and representatives are planning a series of meetings around the state to seek public input about how to deal with a budget deficit.

Governor Tim Pawlenty released his budget proposal late last month, cutting programs, shifting some school payments into the next budget, removing people from state health programs, lowering state payments to local governments and proposing what amounts to borrowing money to pay off construction loans.

His plan also called for a variety of business tax cuts, including chopping the corporate income tax in half, on the theory that the move would influence businesses to spend money and keep workers employed.

He demanded that the budget be balanced without raising taxes, and he proposed to raise few fees, all the while increasing public school spending.

Tags: budget, meeting, time, change, alexandria