Minnesota takes first steps toward a shutdown Minnesota leaders racing to avoid expensive shutdown The costs of a delayed budget have started to accumulate in the face of July 1 deadline. June 5, 2021 — 5:29pm Text size Copy shortlink: State leaders remain adamant that they can avoid a government shutdown that could prove far more problematic than Minnesota's last closure a decade ago, which cost taxpayers at least $85 million and put 19,000 people out of work. Lawmakers need to pass a new budget before July 1 to prevent a shutdown and are behind schedule as they race to beat the clock. Meanwhile, the expenses that come with closing down state government are already are starting to add up.