Minnesota budget surplus: $1.9 billion

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota's budget surplus has ballooned to $1.9 billion, state officials announced this morning.

The surplus, more than double what lawmakers had when they finished work in June, drops to $1.2 billion when $665 million is allocated to reserves and to make payments required by state law.

The money is projected to be available for the current budget, which ends June 30, 2017. The announcement gives state officials an idea about how much they can spend during the 2016 legislative session, which begins March 8.

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/region/3895572-minnesota-budget-surplus-19-billion