the 2011 minnesota state government shutdown was a government shutdown affecting the u.s. state of minnesota. the shutdown was the result of a fiscal dispute between the democratic–farmer–labor party (dfl) governor mark dayton and the republican-majority minnesota legislature, that was not resolved by the constitutional deadline on june 30. the republican caucuses and their leaders demanded bigger spending cuts, and for the budget shortfall to be met without tax increases, while dayton demanded some tax increases. the shutdown started at midnight on july 1, and ended after a budget bill was passed and signed on july 20.