Minnesota projects short-term budget surplus, long-term deficit as health, education spending hikes kick in

Minnesota's budget picture remains stable in the near term but there are clouds on the horizon, officials announced Wednesday.

An updated forecast from Minnesota Management and Budget projects a surplus of $2.4 billion in the two-year budget period that runs through June of 2025. That's up $808 million from the estimate at the end of the legislative session in May. The bigger surplus still accounts for just a fraction of the budget of $72 billion.

MINNESOTA CONSIDERS CHANGING FLAG...