Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Elizabeth Dunbar
St. Paul, Minn.

Explainer: What is unallotment anyway?

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Unallotment is executive power the governor of Minnesota may exercise under certain circumstances to cut the state budget or delay payments without the Legislature's approval.

The Minnesota Legislature formally gave the governor this power in 1939 after Gov. Harold Stassen needed to cut the state budget following an economic recession. The law was aimed at giving the governor power to protect the state from financial crisis.

According to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Gov. Al Quie was the first governor to use unallotment, which happened in the early 1980s.

Gov. Rudy Perpich and Pawlenty were the next governors to use it. But Pawlenty is the only governor who has used it at the beginning of a two-year budget cycle.

For more information about unallotment and its history in Minnesota, check out these links:

Unallotment guide from the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

Report on history of unallotment power by Senate Counsel