Governor Tim Walz unveiled a more detailed version of his planned plan for the state’s $9.25 billion budget surplus on Thursday, March 17, including a $500 Stimulus Check for Minnesotans.
The DFL governor increased the projected Stimulus Check to taxpayers after state budget experts indicated last month that Minnesota continues to bring in more money in taxes and levies than originally predicted.
Minnesotans earning up to $164,400 would be eligible for a $500 payout, while couples filing jointly earning $273,470 or less would receive $1,000. The stimulus checks might assist 2.7 million individuals in the state.
$500 Stimulus Check For Individuals And $1000 For Couples
Before budget analysts estimated that state income would come in $1.5 billion greater than expected, Walz recommended a $175 Stimulus Check to individuals and $350 payments to couples.
The idea isn’t guaranteed to pass since it needs support from both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature to become law.
Walz said reimbursements for front-line employees and repayment of the state’s unemployment benefits trust fund should also be covered using state budget surplus cash at a Holiday gas station in a Twin Cities suburb.
He believes that because the state has a lot of resources, it should be able to support multiple primary goals. The governor also proposed spending $70 million to cover a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for Minnesotans in public pension plans, $70.5 billion to improve the state’s public health systems, $153 million more to recruit and retain caregivers, and $20 million in grants to assist communities in recovering from the pandemic.
The new recommendations are in addition to a number of other extra budget items requested by the Walz administration for child care, education, and professional opportunities, as well as public safety. Last year, lawmakers passed a $52 billion two-year budget, and they are not required to spend the unprecedented surplus in 2022.
