Minnesota

Minnesota has a biennial budget, where the governor makes proposals to the operating budget in odd years, with proposed capital expenditures and supplements to the previous budget being made in even years. Its fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30 (Minnesota Management and Budget 2015e). General Fund spending accounts for 50.9% of the state’s operating budget and provides over 90% of the expenditures for E-12 and virtually all of the revenues for higher education. The enacted budget for FY2014–2015 increased revenues by $2.3 billion and appropriations by $1.6 billion compared to the February 2013 forecast. These changes resulted in a surplus of $46.1 million (Minnesota Management and Budget 2015a, 2015b, 2015c, 2015d). While the fiscal state of the state is rosier than in the last biennium, worrying gaps in achievement among student groups persist and forms the backdrop to many of the proposed education initiatives. Policies focus on improving equity among students, schools, and districts as well as enhancing human capital investments at the post-secondary level (Scheck 2015). Below are the highlights in education funding for FY 2014 and 2015: