Transportation conferees face $115M and $133M general-fund reduction targets

Co-chairs of the Minnesota Transportation Conference Committee told members on May 15 that the committee must identify general-fund reductions of $115,000,000 for the coming biennium and $133,000,000 for the subsequent biennium as part of broader state budget targets.

"We have in front of us, our targets, which are reductions of 115,000,000 in the coming biennium, and then 133,000,000, in the, in the next biennium," Chair Dibble said, describing the targets as challenging but "achievable". He said some previously appropriated general fund amounts had been earmarked for other purposes and therefore might not be available to meet the targets.

Senator Jasinski said the numbers were reasonable to address Minnesota's broader budget gap. "We're facing a $6,000,000,000 structural deficit, so, we have to cut part of that down," Jasinski said, urging careful choices to avoid harming Minnesotans who rely on the transportation system.

Chair Cagle emphasized the need to spread cuts equitably. "We want to make sure that these cuts are balanced, and that we're not, you know, balancing our transportation budget off of the backs of, transit riders," Chair Cagle said.

Committee leaders noted that several transportation-related accounts are outside the general fund, including the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, the State Airports Fund and the Driver and Vehicle Services Operating Account, and that those funds are performing well. Chair Dibble said the committee's focus is on general-fund impacts and described an intent to take a balanced approach across communities and service cohorts.

Members were told to expect a spreadsheet of proposed adjustments; chair statements indicated a goal to complete that work by 2 p.m. the following day. The committee recessed without taking formal votes on budget language during the session.