ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz asked a former state budget director, Jim Schowalter, to be his commissioner of management and budget, and he agreed. Schowalter led the agency for former governors Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and Tim Pawlenty, a Republican. Schowalter replaces Myron Frans, who is taking a senior post at the University of Minnesota. In announcing the appointment, Walz s pointed out that Schowalter helped Dayton resolve a $6.2 billion deficit. The current problem: A projected $4.7 billion deficit due to the pandemic.
