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| Date: | March 17, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Releases Budget Appropriations for FY 2012-13 |
St. Paul— The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee released their budget appropriations Thursday for FY 2012-13. The budget maintains funding for core services to the courts and increases the public defenders budget which is a constitutionally required service. The full Judiciary and Public Safety Committee budget bill will be introduced on Monday, March 21, 2011. Committee Chair, Senator Warren Limmer gave the following statement after the committee meeting.
“As the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the budget proposed today represents, in part, the reality of the stark budget challenges facing our state. This year, our discussions and numerous hearings have focused our fiscal direction to adequately fund the core function of government as outlined by our state constitution.
Although past cuts to the state courts have shown extreme damage to the efficiency of Minnesota’s judicial system, this budget plan maintains core services, while slightly improving the budget to public defenders. A financial hole of $27 million was filled in the Department of Corrections - Institutions budget, caused by an over-reliance of ‘one-time’ federal stimulus funding during the last budget cycle. In an effort to protect the most vulnerable Minnesotans, there were no reductions made to domestic abuse shelters and services. Most social service programs were eliminated that failed to require a matching grant from local communities.
Comments and testimony from the public are welcome during hearings next week, as the committee finalizes its budget proposal.”
Click here to see the budget tracking spreadsheet.
