Standing inside Hilltop Elementary School in Inver Grove Heights on Tuesday, Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan outlined their latest budget proposal they believe will help Minnesota children and families by investing in schools, child care, and paid leave.
The latest Walz-Flanagan budget places expanding access to childcare and early learning at the top of the list. Lt. Gov. Flanagan said Tuesday that a historic investment of nearly $1.8 billion would go directly towards addressing issues surrounding pre-k and child care access.
"It will lead to increased access for affordable, quality slots for Minnesota families through increased pre-k, head start, child care businesses, child care assistance, and early learning scholarships," Flanagan said. "These investments mean that the budget forecast adjusts the Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance Program, which will add another 16,000 families or 32,000 chidden to be served by this program, virtually eliminating the waiting list."
According to their budget proposal, low-income Minnesotans who need assistance paying for child care are often left on waiting lists for child care slots for two years. With the Basic Sliding Fee currently capped, their is no ability to eliminate that wait.
“Since day one, we’ve been committed to making Minnesota the best state in the country to raise a family,” said Governor Walz. “That’s why we’re proposing historic investments in schools, child care, and paid family and medical leave. We need to ensure that, starting from birth, our kids are getting the world-class education they deserve and that our families are getting the resources they need to succeed. Our first year in office, we fought to protect 4,000 prekindergarten seats across the state. Now, we’re working to expand prekindergarten for 23,000 kids”
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The propose supplemental budget would increase the education funding formula by 2 percent.
"We know this budget addresses a number of areas of need we have consistently heard from school communities in areas of mental health, academic and social/emotional support, high quality early childhood options beginning at birth, and a number of critically important areas," said Minnesota Education Commissioner, Dr. Heather Mueller.
$77 million is being proposed to address shortages of school support personnel services that benefit students’ social, emotional, and physical health.
When it comes to paid family and medical leave, along with sick and safe leave, Tuesday's budget proposal addresses areas where programs would be created for those specific reasons.
"Our job is to lay down this marker that we've listened to Minnesotans for months. We've spent hundreds of hours putting this budget together," Walz said. "I would at least take the time to take a look at it before criticizing, that's kind of aimed at some of my senate friends over there."
In their plan, Gov. Walz and Lt. Flanagan write, "The Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s proposal would ensure workers can accrue up to 48 hours per year of paid sick leave for when they need to recover from an illness, go to a medical appointment, care for a child during a school closure, or get care and assistance due to domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault."
Minnesota Republicans issued statements following Walz's $5.1 billion proposal, calling it a "spending spree."
"Last year Senate Republicans passed record funding for schools; a 2.5% increase this year, a 2% increase next year, and Minnesota schools received $3 billion from Congress. We also stopped additional mandates and worked to keep kids in classrooms," said Senator Roger Chamberlain, Senate K-12 Education Committee Chair. "Throwing more money into schools without addressing literacy and allowing kids and educators to catch up is the wrong direction. We’ll focus on kids’ reading skills and prepare them for graduation through proven, successful programs and get them on the right track."