House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, and Gov. Mark Dayton agreed on a two-year higher education budget today of $3.058 billion.
That number is $166 million "above base," which is Minnesota Management and Budget's projection for the cost of continuing operations at current levels. Tuition increases will be required at both the University of Minnesota and MnSCU, Bakk said.
The deal on higher education stipulates that $30 million must go to the University of Minnesota Medical School, which Dayton proposed earlier this year.
The Senate budget target was $204 million above the base; the House budget was $56 million; Dayton proposed $283 million.
The negotiations broke up for a dinner break. On his way to his vehicle, Daudt was asked what they will take up next.
"All the rest of them," he said.
