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Thursday, July 07, 2011

Ind. Gov't. - What happens when a state government shuts down

We've had budget impasses in Indiana, along with speculation about what would happen if the impasse wasn't resolved and government actually had to shut down. See for example this ILB entry from May 25, 2009.

Now we have a real life example from Minnesota, replete with examples of things you wouldn't have thought of. 6News is running a story from CNNMoney that begins:

There won't be any happy hours at The Independent in Minneapolis during the government shutdown.

The restaurant's liquor license expired just as a budget impasse in Minnesota put most state operations on hold. So both the state licensing bureau and the eatery had to shut their doors Friday.

Here is a story from Politico that begins:
Already suffering from a recession and political gridlock that would make Washington blush, Minnesota is losing tens millions of dollars of revenue due to a government shutdown headed into its second week, the Associated Press reported.

Among the losses the state is incurring: $1.25 million daily in unsold lottery tickets, $1 million a week lost from unpaid state parks fees, $52 million a month in tax revenue not being collected because state auditors – like the rest of state government deemed nonessential – are out of work and up to $50,000 a week from closed tolled highway express lanes.

Add to that increased costs from delays at 100 road construction projects – which also involve private companies laying off employees scheduled to work on state jobs – that won’t be known until after the shutdown ends.

Minnesota Public Radio has this "FAQ on Minnesota's state government shutdown."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 7, 2011 10:33 AM
Posted to Indiana Government