This past week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his plan to plug the $4.2 billion budget hole for the 2004-05 biennium. It is a smart roadmap to state solvency, but I’m sure there will be detours as the budget winds its way through the committee process. I’ve been meeting with some people from the governor’s office about my concerns on rural issues.

As he promised, the governor holds harmless K-12 education. But as a result, other areas of the budget have proportionately steeper reductions. Higher education student grant programs receive an increase of $60 million, but both the U of M and MnSCU systems will face cutbacks. Health care spending is increased by 8 percent but some programs will receive less funding. Local government aid is reduced.

The Legislature itself, all constitutional officers (Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Attorney General), and most state agencies will see a 15 percent cut, and state and local government employees will see their wages temporarily frozen as a way to help get the cost of government under control. Some agencies are consolidated or made self-supporting.

Yet the governor’s proposed budget increases state spending by about $1 billion, or 3.8 percent.

I think the governor is flexible about looking at different ways of getting to the same point. On ethanol, for example, while the governor has proposed reducing producer payments to 10 cents per gallon, I sensed a willingness on his part to look at other ways to enhance the ethanol industry, such as increased marketing of E-85 fuels.

As committees evaluate the governor’s proposals, it will be an opportunity to measure the effectiveness of state funded programs and services. Before we cut, it’s important to find out what works, what doesn’t and how can we do things better. Is the sky falling? That has been many people’s reactions, understandably. When I met with representatives of the local arts board a while ago, people there expressed their concerns about potential cutbacks. The governor has proposed a 22 percent reduction in funding to regional arts councils. But it’s not as severe as it could have been.

In the Jobs & Economic Development Committee, we’re been hearing concerns about housing issues and the possible impact of reductions in housing programs. But the state’s core housing assistance programs will remain intact. We can still be proud that Minnesota leads the nation in the percentage of people who own their homes.

I think legislators must find balance between what the governor has proposed and what are the legitimate needs of our local communities. As for tax increases, I don’t think you’ll see a rush to raise taxes, especially now in a down economy. Remember, Ford rejected Albert Lea and Minnesota due in large part to our high tax rates.

Remember, the governor cannot unallot like he did to balance the 2003 budget. The Legislature has to do its job now

Got a question or concern? Write me at 579 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155, or call me, toll-free, at 1-877-377-9441. My e-mail address is rep.dan.dorman @house.mn.

Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, represents District 27A, consisting of Freeborn County and part of Mower County. in the Minnesota House of Representatives.