'Walz Checks' Proposal Swells to $500 Per Person, $1K Per Couple

SAINT PAUL, MN — Citing the recent increase in Minnesota's projected budget surplus, Gov. Tim Walz has officially increased the amount of his "Walz Checks" proposal.

The Minnesota Management and Budget office released an economic forecast in February that found a state budget surplus of $9.25 billion for the fiscal year 2022-2023.

Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan have since revised their own budget and now propose distributing Walz Checks of $500 per person, or $1,000 to each married couple.

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 current proposal, Walz's office said.

"Thanks to the hard work of Minnesotans across the state, Minnesota’s economy is strong," Walz said in a news release.

"With a historic surplus, we have an opportunity to provide direct relief to Minnesotans and invest in the future of our state. Amid global economic uncertainty, direct payments are one of the best ways to make it easier for Minnesotans to pay their bills. Right now, we have the resources to send $1,000 to Minnesota families."

The governor's plan would need to pass the Minnesota legislature before becoming law. Read more about Walz's budget proposal here.

Meanwhile, Republicans in the Minnesota Senate continue to argue that the state's massive budget surplus is an indication that the state needs to cut taxes.

"The massive surplus continues to get larger meaning the state government is simply collecting too much money from the taxpayers," Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller said last month.

"This is out of control," said Senate Finance Chair Julie Rosen."A $9 billion surplus means government took way too much from taxpayers at a time when people are still struggling to afford everyday life."

State Senate Republicans recently unveiled a proposal to cut taxes by $8.5 billion.

Under the proposal, the lowest-tier income tax rate would move from 5.35 percent down to 2.8 percent. Additionally, the proposal eliminates the state Social Security benefits tax.

Senate Democrats, who are in the minority in the Senate, called the proposal "premature and reckless." Democrats in the state House, where their party holds a majority, have proposed $1,500 bonus checks for frontline workers.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.