In the near term, Pawlenty’s education shift will hurt school districts paying interest on money they now must borrow to cover state aid that doesn’t arrive when promised — to the tune of $30 per pupil.

In the longer term, Democratic leaders say that in unallotting education, Pawlenty is only “mimicking” the kinds of budget shifts the state has seen before; the governor doesn’t have the authority to pledge that the money will be made up later.

“You’re looking at a $5-billion deficit and no repayment authority,” says Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, “so what I would say to school districts is you are absolutely kidding yourselves if you think this is going to be paid back.”