My MN Budget

With Minnesota’s budget woes deepening to a $5.8 billion deficit for the 2012-2013 biennium, voters want to know where state candidates stand on creating a long-lasting, gimmick-free budget solution. At MyMNBudget.com*, users can take on the role of governor or legislator and propose a complete budget package that brings the state’s coffers back into balance. This comprehensive budget tool recreates the entire state General Fund dollar-for-dollar and allows users to cut spending on programs they feel are overfunded and increase spending on programs they value. New revenue can also be generated through specific taxes. Users are encouraged to send their budget solutions to candidates for office and encourage them to lay out their own detailed plans.

*Update: This project was a huge success with over 600 unique users submitting highly-detailed balanced budget proposals for the 2011-2012 biennium. Although this site was deactivated after the 2011 legislative session, a report with a summary of the results is available through the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.