Although the evaporating surplus might create the appearance of mismanagement, most of it was accrued from rolled-over savings and federal COVID-19 aid. As multiple state budget directors have already concurred, this one-time windfall couldn't have done much about long-term trends.
The largest cost growth is in long-term care, resulting from an aging population and two bipartisan policies aimed at supporting seniors and disabled Minnesotans: In 2015, the Legislature uncapped the number of enrollees eligible to receive care at home, which saves the state money compared to pricier nursing facilities. Pay raises for the domestic support professionals that provide this care also received bipartisan votes in both 2021 and 2023.