With no agreement on a state budget, thousands of people wait, wonder and worry about the impacts to their jobs, their families and themselves.
County officials Tuesday met with department heads in an effort to prepare for the possible shutdown, which could occur Friday.
Planning for something that could or could not happen is not easy. A judge’s decision on what jobs, services and programs would be considered essential, and therefore not be shut down, may ease some of the concerns.
But the concerns are far reaching should a shutdown occur. And even with a budget agreement and no shutdown, local governments still have no idea how their state funding may be impacted.
Clearly drawn political lines have brought us to this near crisis. Now is the time for state lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton to find a way to strike a budget deal.
Minnesotans’ patience has worn thin. Most Minnesotans are not political partisans who tightly align themselves with political policy. Instead, they care about how a shutdown of the government will impact their lives.
Some have suggested a temporary surtax to get us out of the fiscal mess the state is in. In this case, it would require a sunset clause. Afterall, strong polarization at St. Paul won’t allow any permanent change in tax policy now.
Maybe resolution would be forthcoming if the salaries of legislators and the governor were docked for each day a shut down impacts the lives of Minnesotans. In a lengthy shutdown, these elected officials may even owe us money.
We want to reiterate what we’ve said in this space before: The same voters who elected a Republican majority in the Legislature, elected a Democrat for governor.
Is it crazy to think that these voters expected the two sides to come together toward compromise?
We don’t think so. There is still time to reach a solution that will keep Minnesotans from facing a costly mess.
