Get our free mobile app

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Millions of Minnesota families would get checks totaling up to $2,600 back from the state's huge surplus under the budget plan that Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday.

The direct payments are the centerpiece of an overall $65 billion budget he unveiled to reporters.

The payments would be structured as tax credits equal to $2,000 for families with incomes below $150,000, and $1,000 for single filers making less than $75,000.

The Walz administration says more than 2.5 million Minnesotans would get the checks if lawmakers approve the plan. His proposed budget also includes expanded tax credits for families with children.

The Democratic governor's budget also includes lower taxes on Social Security income for more than 350,000 households, but not a complete elimination of the tax as Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers have proposed.

The governor's budget proposal sets the stage for the main work of the 2023 legislative session. But his fellow Democrats, who now control both chambers, will have their own ideas about spending and tax priorities, and the final budget will be the product of committee hearings, floor debates and private negotiations over the next few months.

Pictures from the 2023 World Snow Sculpting Championships In Stillwater Minnesota

The World Snow Sculpting Championships were held recently in Stillwater where teams from as far away as Mexico and Columbia competed against each other for a share of the top prize, medals, and the title of World's Best when it comes to snow sculpting.