After a long selection process the state of Minnesota, with the full support of Governor Mark Dayton (DFL) and legislative leaders, has hired nearly two dozen consultants to help find savings in the state budget.

The decision to hire the consultants was made earlier this year during the long budget debate that led to a state government shutdown.

Consulting firms have promised to find tens of millions of dollars in savings as Governor Dayton and the legislature look to continue to trim costs. Making cuts has become more difficult after state budget officials reported a surprising surplus resulting from higher than expected revenues.