MN - Anatomy of a compromise

05/21/2007

Star Tribune
May 20, 2007


With a budget agreement imminent Sunday evening, negotiators said these were key elements under discussion:

PROBABLY IN

• More property tax relief for homeowners, a must-have for DFLers and Republicans alike.

• Tightened tax rules for businesses with foreign operations, a DFL priority.

• More funding for Q Comp merit pay for teachers, and for lifting standards at select high schools, priorities for Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

• JOBZ, Pawlenty's controversial job creation program for outstate Minnesota, which is likely to survive with some changes.

PROBABLY OUT

• Robust funding increases for nursing homes. Their increases will be smaller.

• Big boosts for per pupil school funding. They'll get modest increases, along with more special education money.