FALSE INFORMATION BEING DISTRIBUTED BY DAYTON PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER

From: Dohman, Mona (DPS) Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:10 PM To: #DPS _All Public Safety
All DPS Employees: After five months of hard work by many people, and progress in some areas, the 2011 legislative session concluded without a budget deal. Although it is disappointing, I remain optimistic. Over the past week, Governor Dayton and legislative leaders had substantive, constructive meetings. There is common ground in many areas, and the Governor and legislators will continue to meet and seek a solution to the budget, in the days ahead. We are very aware of the limbo and uncertainty for all who work in state government. In the days and weeks ahead, the Governor has said that he will do everything in his power to find a solution to the budget. In the meantime, we have begun the process of contingency planning - as we are facing the end of the fiscal year on June 30, without a budget in place. This is a complicated and challenging process. We know that you will have many questions and concerns. Very soon we will begin to talk in more detail about how this contingency planning process will work, and what it will mean to all of you. I appreciate your patience - and please know - we are committed to keeping you up to date with the information that we can provide for you. As you all know, budgets are about dollars and cents, but they are also a reflection of values and priorities. How the budget gap is closed, will speak volumes about the kind of state we want to be. The Governor made it clear that he cannot support the all-cuts budget that came to him, but he is still prepared to meet halfway. He believes the negative impacts are just too great with a cuts-only approach. He has put forward a different choice - one that combines tough but responsible cuts with new revenue, by asking the top 2% of income earners to pay more in order to keep property taxes down, keep thousands of Minnesotans from losing their health care, and avoid unnecessary cuts to special education, higher education, programs to help seniors and the disabled. Through the legislative session, it became clear that compromise would be necessary, to balance our states budget. During his Inaugural Speech, Governor Dayton said he believed that Minnesotans, in their wisdom, voted for a divided government because they want each party to work together for a budget compromise. Compromise is not necessarily easy because it means that each person must give up something that is important to them. We very much appreciate the work you always do, and the work that you have done over the past five months. We will stay in close touch so that we can share information as it becomes available. Mona Dohman Commissioner of Public Safety Bremer Tower, Suite 1000 445 Minnesota Street

UNTRUE: The Minnesota Legislature passed a complete and balanced budget that funded Minnesotas priorities at the highest level of general fund spending ever. This budget was VETOED by Gov. Mark Dayton as he prepares to shutdown state government for a tax increase on Minnesotans.