Minnesota Government Shutdown FAQ

The Minnesota government officially shut down at midnight on July 1, sparking many disruptions in state services and directly impacting thousands of Minnesotans. FOX 9 News compiled a list of commonly asked questions about the shutdown and its effects.

JUMP TO: Political Overview | Layoff Numbers | State Services Affected | Tornado Response Effects | Economic Impacts | Other Effects


Political Overview

Q: Is the government shut down?
A: Yes. Lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton failed to pass a budget before the July 1 deadline.

Q: Does the government shutdown save or cost money?
A: The government shutdown is already costing taxpayers millions. The full cost isn't expected to be known until after it ends.

Q: Are lawmakers still getting paid during the shutdown?
A: Yes, they are entitled to their pay during a shutdown, but Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, and about 60 other lawmakers are refusing their pay while the shutdown goes on. To see a full list of who is declining or accepting pay, click here.

Q: Didn’t the Minnesota House and Senate pass a complete budget through a series of bills?
A: Yes, but Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed all but one of them, something he had warned the Republican-controlled Legislature he intended to do throughout the process while he pushed for a complete budget.

Q: For weeks, lawmakers have accused one another of being unwilling to compromise on the budget. Have lawmakers made efforts to meet in the middle?
A: Yes. Gov. Mark Dayton's original budget called for adding over $3 billion in new revenue through raising taxes on top earners. Dayton later scaled back his tax plan to only affect the top 2 percent of earners in the state for $1.8 billion, but Republicans immediately rejected it. Republicans have stood against increasing the budget beyond $34 billion throughout the process and want to make up a projected $5 billion deficit through cuts alone, but they offered to agree to Dayton's spending proposals and give up $200 million in tax cuts if he drops the new tax hike. After the shutdown, Dayton again proposed raising taxes on millionaires or adding a $1 per pack cigarette tax he previously opposed to increase revenues, but Republicans rejected both immediately.

Q: A third budget commission was convened by former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Gov. Arne Carlson. What solution do they propose?
A: The bipartisan commission has recommended increasing taxes on all Minnesotans by 4 percent to increase revenues by $1.4 billion, but the proposal is not likely to take root.

Q: Why hasn’t a special session been called to work on the budget?
A: Gov. Mark Dayton has said for months he will not call lawmakers back to work until they reach an agreement on a full budget. 

Q: Have lawmakers pushed for a special session?
A: Yes. Republicans urged Dayton to call a special session multiple times in June. Republicans also petitioned a judge to order a special session, but their request was denied.

Q: Gov. Mark Dayton requested mediation in the budget impasse. Could that still happen?
A: No. A Ramsey County judge dismissed that request.

Q: What does Gov. Mark Dayton consider to be essential services that should remain open?
A: In the middle of June, Dayton released a detailed list.

Q: Are politicians considering state health plans and economic assistance programs to be essential services?
A: Yes. Gov. Mark Dayton added health care services and financial help programs to his list of essential services in an effort to keep nursing homes open and health providers working with their patients, and a judge ruled that MinnesotaCare and unemployment payments should continue in a government shutdown.

Q: Will local governments still get their payments from the state?
A: Not unless they take action. The City of Minneapolis plans to sue if they don’t get their allocated funds.

Q: What would a shutdown look like if the government did nothing?
A: Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a petition detailing the possible consequences in mid-June. A judge ruled prison guards and state troopers are essential, but local governments have expressed concerns about maintaining their police forces if state financial aid does not arrive. There are some theories about what a shutdown may look like, but the state is still waiting to know for sure what form it will take. It is already far more expansive than the shutdown in 2005.

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Layoff Numbers

Thousands of Minnesota workers at all levels of government have received layoff notices, though some have already been rescinded.

Q: How many state workers have received layoff notices?
A: A Ramsey County judge has ruled nearly 22,000 workers will be furloughed. In early June, the state mailed out 36,000 layoff notices to state workers in all levels of government.

Q: Will state workers lose their health benefits if they are laid off?
A: No. All seven of the state's employee unions worked with the state, which approved a package to continue health care benefits for workers during a shutdown.

Q: How many Hennepin County workers would be laid off?
A: The county sent out about 1,300 layoff notices on June 27.

Q: Do laid-off Hennepin County workers immediately lose their benefits?
A: No. The county board voted to continue health and life insurance for employees during a shutdown, but employees will later have to reimburse the county for making the full payments.

Q: Is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system going to have to lay off staff if the government shuts down?
A: No. Though they originally sent 6,000 notices to employees, they later rescinded all of them after determining they had enough reserves and tuition to remain open through fall term.

Q: How many Minnesotans enrolled in state support programs are affected by the layoffs?
A: So far, more than 600,000 notices were sent to Minnesotans on state support.

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State Services Affected

We keep an updated list list of agencies that will remain open or closed in a shutdown here.

Q: Will the court system remain open during a state shutdown?
A: Yes. A judge ordered the system to stay open to ensure citizens’ rights under the state and federal constitutions.

Q: I'm currently collecting unemployment from the state. Will the checks still come if the government shuts down?
A: Yes. Unemployment insurance was deemed critical on June 29. Federally-mandated services like food stamps and medical assistance will also continue.

Q: The state provides assistance with my child care. Will I still receive those benefits?
A: Yes. As the shutdown entered its 13th day, a judge ordered child care help to continue in a shutdown. The decision marked a reversal from her previous ruling that the service was not critical under the Constitution, though she had said it was an important service. The state sent notices to 26,000 Minnesota families that get help with child care costs, warning them the money may not come prior to the shutdown.

Q: I am disabled and use state services to perform background checks on personal care assistants and training. Will those programs continue?
A: Yes. A judge has ordered the Department of Human Services to resume background checks on those who work with vulnerable populations, and also to continue emergency aid programs and blind training.

Q: I am a disabled resident who was getting help from the state to find housing. Will I still get help?
A: Not for now. The state's appointed special master said though disabled-housing service is important, it is not essential or required by the federal government.

Q: I am the parent of a disabled child. Will schools still be able to provide special education in a shutdown?
A: Yes. A judge has ordered the state to continue funding special education costs amid the shutdown.

Q: I need to renew my vehicle tabs. Will I still be able to if the government shuts down?
A: Yes. County offices that process vehicle tab renewals will be able to renew tabs while they still have enough in stock. If they run out in a prolonged shutdown, the service may be suspended.

Q: My drivers license is expiring soon. Can I still renew it?
A: Yes. If you renew a license -- including those that have been suspended -- and keep the receipt, the ID and license is valid, but anyone who needs a new drivers license will not have one until the government reopens.

Q: Can I get a boating license if the government shuts down?
A: No. County offices that process boating licenses not be able to access state computer database.

Q: Will I still be able to get a marriage license in a shutdown?
A: No. County offices that issue marriage licenses will not be able to access state databases.

Q: I need to access state records, like a birth certificate. Can I still get a copy in a shutdown?
A: No. County offices that supply records will not be able to access state databases.

Q: Can I get a fishing or hunting license if the government shuts down?
A: No. Suppliers of fishing licenses will not be able to access state databases. DNR wardens will still enforce license laws.

Q: Will rest stops on Minnesota interstates and highways remain open?
A: No. Most of them closed on Wednesday.

Q: Will the MnPASS lanes close or will they be free to use?
A: The MnPASS program will halt after June 30. Solo drivers would not be allowed to use the lanes during rush hours, but could at other times. State troopers will continue enforcing the lane restrictions.

Q: Will road construction projects continue if the state shuts down?
A: No. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will suspend about 100 road projects across the state, and will also close it's traffic center. Only MnDOT's emergency response vehicles were considered an essential service.

Q: Will state parks close if the government shuts down?
A: Yes. All 66 of the state's parks closed their gates at 10 p.m. on Thursday. More than 4,000 campsites reserved over the Fourth of July weekend were closed. Park buildings and restrooms are locked, but state trails and water access points will remain open for day use.

Q: I'm still waiting on a tax rebate. Will that still come?
A: Yes, but it will be delayed. Property tax returns and renters rebates will not be processed during a shutdown.

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Tornado Response Effects

Q: Will north Minneapolis tornado victims still receive emergency food and financial help if the state shuts down?
A: Probably. Many victims expressed worries their aid may disappear after more than 600,000 notices were sent to Minnesotans on state support, but Gov. Mark Dayton added financial and food help programs to his list of “essential services” that was submitted to a Ramsey County judge.

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Economic Impacts

Q: Will a government shutdown have a noticeable impact on the private sector?
A: Yes. Jim Hammerand, of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal says the economic effects will extend to banks, retailers and even to lumberjacks. The state sent notices to its private contractors at the end of May warning them they may not get paid.

Q: The federal government budget problems are threatening America's credit rating. Does the Minnesota shutdown hurt the state's?
A: Yes. One week after the shutdown began, the state's credit rating was downgraded.

Q: Will the government shutdown affect my private health care?
A: Possibly. Doctors whose licenses expire during a shutdown would not be able to practice medicine until their licenses can be renewed. The state also warned its vendors that provided contracted care that they may not get paid during a shutdown.

Q: Will businesses and consumers be able to get loans?
A: Yes. A judge ruled that the work conducted by the Secretary of State's office is an essential service. Banks rely on checking liens with the Secretary of State’s Office, and an estimated 17,000 filings and information requests would have been suspended in July alone without keeping the office open.

Q: I need to buy or sell a car soon. Will I still be able to?
A: Yes, but the process will likely be slower. The shutdown is slowing down paperwork processing because dealers are struggling to confirm liens and titles quickly, especially since there was already an existing 30-day backlog of titles. Also, the problem gets worse as time ticks. Dealers will give buyers a 21-day permit, but if the shutdown continues for three more weeks, they'll be driving illegally.

Q: Are there any financial options available to laid-off workers in a shutdown?
A: Yes. Twin Cities credit unions are activating work stoppage and emergency loan programs, but they say the demand may reach unprecedented levels. Unions are also encouraging their members to apply for federal unemployment benefits in the event of a shutdown.

Q: How will the shutdown affect the tourism industry?
A: The economic impact is expected to vary by region, but the president of Hospitality Minnesota says it could jeopardize 75,000-80,000 jobs. Business owners say closing the state parks alone will cost them.

Q: I heard that the shutdown could close bars and liquor stores and restrict alcohol sales. Is this true?
A: Yes. Businesses that sell liquor are required to annually renew a card that allows them to purchase from wholesalers, but the state is not processing them and hundreds of liquor sale licenses will soon expire and could shutter businesses. In fact, the popular Uptown bar The Independent closed in early July because they couldn't renew their liquor license in time.

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Other Effects

Q: Will the University of Minnesota remain open during a shutdown?
A: Yes. Buildings and offices will hold regular hours, and the medical and dental clinics will remain open, but officials are still developing contingency plans if the shutdown is prolonged.

Q: Will the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system remain open if the government shuts down?
A: Yes. The school rescinded the 6,000 layoff notices it issued after determining they had enough reserves and tuition to remain open through fall term and passed a new budget that contains a 5 percent tuition hike, cuts programs and eliminates positions.

Will Canterbury Park close if the government shuts down?
A: Yes. The Minnesota Racing Commission, which regulates horse safety and gambling at the tracks is shut down, but they unanimously passed a resolution asking for the tracks to keep going. A judge denied the request Friday.

Q: Will the Minnesota Zoo remain open?
A: Yes. It reopened on Sunday, July 3 after a judge ruled it can access its accounts without legislative approval. Before the petition was granted, the judge approved Dayton's request that handlers be allowed to stay on the job to care for the animals during a government shutdown. The zoo was shuttered for a few days.

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