St. Paul, Minn. – Today, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the November budget forecast which revealed a budget surplus of $7.7 billion for the FY 2022-2023 biennium. In response, Senator Chris Eaton (DFL- Brooklyn Center) released the following statement:
“With the recent release from MMB of a $7.7 billion surplus, it is clear that Minnesota needs to use these funds to prioritize people in our community hit the hardest during this pandemic.
Although every Minnesotan has been impacted by the pandemic in tremendous ways, we know that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are experiencing the devastation at disproportionate levels. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “COVID-19 data shows that Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native persons in the United States experience higher rates of COVID-19-related hospitalization and death compared with non-Hispanic White populations.”
It is critical that Minnesotans who have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, including frontline workers, teachers and students, and working families, are prioritized in this upcoming legislative session for a fair and equitable recovery.