Legislators seeking public input on state budget

WILLMAR -- The finance committees of the Minnesota Senate and House will be in Willmar on Thursday to ask the public for ideas on how to solve the state's budget deficit.

Committee members will conduct a hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy Elementary School, 824 Seventh St. S.W.

Member of the public will be invited to share their ideas about setting priorities and about what the Legislature should do to address the deficit, which is forecast to be about $5 billion in the next two-year budget. Another budget forecast is coming in March.