budget

The Minnesota Legislature is meeting over the weekend as the clock counts down on the regular session.

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton hasn't decided whether to keep a proposed sales tax expansion intact but says he expects to announce a revised budget early next week. Dayton said Wednesday that he's consulting with senior administration officials about how to reconfigure his recommendations...

Minnesota's budget debate kicks into a higher gear on Thursday when state finance officials set the parameters for a process that must conclude by mid-May.

Governor Mark Dayton is highlighting savings from bureaucratic changes.

Governor Mark Dayton says it will take a "very compelling case" to win exemptions from his plan to subject more items and services to the sales tax.

Minnesota's tax code brims with contradictions, carve-outs and just plain confusion. At least that's how governor after governor has viewed it as he's tried to convince the Legislature and the public that the system is ripe for a remake.

For eight of the past 11 years, deficits riddled Minnesota's budget and lawmakers responded with spending cuts, fee hikes, drawn-down reserves and other Scotch-tape solutions that momentarily balanced the books.

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners have set the preliminary budget and levy for 2013. But, the levy will be less than what was proposed.

Sherburne County is expected to pass a 2013 budget and levy which will keep taxes flat and reduce spending.

Stearns County residents would likely see a decrease in the county portion of their taxes in 2013 despite a proposed increase in the budget for next year.