Bob CollinsThe game is well underway as it is every biennium. A sitting governor has proposed a budget. Legislative leaders are shocked by it. The numbers change. The majority party changes. The game never changes.
So how close to reality are proposed budgets? There’s no equation but a quick examination of the general state spending budgets for the last 10 years shows they’re usually in the “ballpark.”
| Bieninum | Proposed by governor | Actual general spending |
| 2000-2001 (Ventura) | $25 billion | $23.4 billion |
| 2002-2003 (Ventura) | $27.3 billion | $26.6 billion |
| 2004-2005 (Pawlenty) | $28.1 billion | $28.1 billion* |
| 2006-2007 (Pawlenty) | $30 billion | $31.4 billion * |
| 2008-2009 (Pawlenty) | $34.4 billion | $32.2 billion ** |
| 2010-2011 (Pawlenty) | $33.6 billion | $30.2 billion*** |
| 2012-2013 (Dayton) | $37.1 billion | — |
* Based on end-of-session forecast expenditures
** Based on February revenue forecast
*** Based on November forecast
