The Minnesota House State Government Finance Committee on Jan. 16, 2025 received an orientation from nonpartisan fiscal staff outlining the committee's funding scope, internal service funds and where several large agency costs are recorded.

The committee heard from Helen Roberts, nonpartisan fiscal analyst, who said, "The State Government Finance General Fund appropriation makes up less than 2% of the state's overall general fund budget." Roberts told members the committee's general-fund base for fiscal 2026-27, based on the November forecast, is $1,310,000,000 and that the three largest general-fund items in the committee's jurisdiction are the Department of Revenue, the Legislature and pension aid payments.

Roberts said the committee does not fund every state operation despite its name, but does cover major administrative agencies including the Department of Revenue, Administration, Minnesota Management and Budget and services that provide infrastructure to other agencies. She explained the difference between a general-fund view and an all-funds view, noting that internal-service funds substantially change the dollars under the committee's purview.

"MNIT provides its IT services to the executive branch through a fee for service," Roberts said, explaining that most MNIT (Minnesota IT Services) operations are funded through an internal fund with rate charges to other agencies. Representative Paul Anderson asked whether the MNIT services fund is revenue; Roberts said it is, collected by MNIT to pay for services and that MNIT publishes a biennial rate package with greater detail.

Roberts also walked members through other all-funds examples such as the Department of Administration's real-estate and facilities management funds, the State Board of Investment's assessed expenses and the State Employee Insurance Fund managed by MMB (Minnesota Management and Budget).

Representative Duane Quam asked for comparative detail about the House and Senate budgets. Roberts said she could provide additional information and noted the Senate's published budget includes debt-service on its new building, which affects year-to-year comparisons. Roberts further said debt service connected with the State Office Building (SOB) renovation and the Centennial move costs are recorded in the Department of Administration line and are broken out in her materials.

Colby Sullivan of the nonpartisan House Research Department told members his packet contains a memorandum that lists each entity within the committee's jurisdiction and the constitutional or statutory sections that govern them. Sullivan noted the committee's jurisdiction extends beyond the executive branch to include the Legislature, the Legislative Coordinating Commission and oversight of joint offices such as the Legislative Auditor and the Revisor of Statutes.

Sullivan also highlighted that the committee has operating-budget jurisdiction over three gambling agencies'the State Lottery, the Racing Commission and the Gambling Control Board'while gambling policy typically rests with the Commerce Committee.

The staffers encouraged members to request more detailed agency profiles, SWIFT (the state accounting system) history and their internal tracking sheets; Roberts offered to meet with members individually to walk through the committee's 30-page tracking sheet.

Chair Jim Nash and staff urged members to use the nonpartisan resources as they prepare for budget and policy work in the session. Roberts and Sullivan said they would provide follow-up materials requested by members.

Less critical details: the committee also reviewed internal procedural rules for the session and scheduled their next meeting for the committee's posted times.