Gov. Walz Proposes Increasing 'Walz Checks' To $1000 Per Couple

ST. PAUL, MN — Following Monday's news that Minnesota is projected to have a surplus of $9.25 billion, Gov. Tim Walz increased the size of the "Walz Checks" he wants to send to state residents.

Walz said in a news conference that, given the latest surplus projection, he wants to send one-time checks of $500 per person and $1000 per married couple in Minnesota.

"Minnesota's budget and the economic outlook remain positive," the state's Management and Budget office said in a statement Monday.

"A higher income, consumer spending, and corporate profit forecast results in an improved revenue projection while spending is slightly lower in E-12 education and Health and Human Services."

Here's how much money you could receive under the Walz Checks plan:

• Single tax filers earning up to $164,400 would receive a payment of $500
• A married couple filing jointly earning up to $273,470 would receive a payment of $1000

More than 2.7 million Minnesota households would receive a Walz Check under the proposal. Walz's plan would also provide $1 billion in payments to Minnesota's frontline workers.

The governor's plan would need to pass the Minnesota legislature before becoming law.

Meanwhile, Republicans in the Minnesota Senate are calling for $8.6 billion permanent tax cuts.

"We are proposing permanent, ongoing tax relief so working Minnesotans have more money in their pockets every single paycheck week after week, month after month, year after year," Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller said Thursday.

Monday's economic projections for the state weren't entirely good news. State analysts warned that inflation and geopolitical conflict could negatively impact the state's surplus.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story