Gov. Mark Dayton Wednesday said he had a "heavy heart" over the number of services Ramsey County Courts outlined would stop in a government shutdown but also noted that the judge essentially adopted his list of services that would be opened and closed.
"It appears that her order arrived at the same middle ground as my Administration, and essentially agreed with my list of critical services that must continue. I prepared that list based on my constitutional responsibility as Governor to protect the lives and safety of the people of Minnesota," Dayton said in a statement. "I arrived at that list with a heavy heart, knowing full well the important role that government plays in the everyday success of Minnesota's citizens and businesses."
While Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered core services to stay functioning in a shutdown, she also said she had very limited authority to order other services funded.
She ordered health care, prisons, nursing homes and veterans homes funded. Unlike Dayton, she also ordered previously appropriated money to flow to schools and cities.
"There is no doubt that cities dodged a major bullet this morning that may have crippled communities," said Park Rapids Mayor Nancy Carroll, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.
The shutdown would still be painful, based on the outline of the judge's ruling.
The appeals of Dayton's decisions on what should be funded and not would go to a "special master" who would sort through details. Gearin ruled that former Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Blatz should be that special master.
While the court was issuing its ruling, Dayton and Republican lawmakers continued working on finding a budget solution that would avert a shutdown.
