The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on Monday, but the budgeting continues. More reductions are on tap as Gov. Tim Pawlenty prepares to balance the budget using emergency authority to fix a deficit. It’s called unallotment.

Here is a look at the major issues of the session.

Bonding

The governor shaved $85 million from a $300 million construction projects bill, rejecting the Bell Museum of Natural History, new college buildings and civic center expansions. What’s left focuses on fixing up college buildings and preventing future flooding.

Deficit

The hole was $6.4 billion deep, backfilled partly with federal stimulus money and spending cuts. Still, $2.7 billion remained at session’s end. Democrats tried fixing it with a last-minute mix of taxes and school payment delays destined for a veto. Instead, Pawlenty plans to erase the remaining shortfall on his own by reducing spending and delaying payments.

Education

Schools escaped direct budget cuts. But Pawlenty plans to delay as much as $1.8 billion of their state payments, leaving them to lay off teachers and make other adjustments to stay solvent. Attempts to raise taxes to send more money to classrooms failed.

Energy

Minnesota’s 15-year-old ban on new nuclear power plants remains. The Senate voted to scrap it but the House fell a dozen votes short. The effort could come back in 2010. Pawlenty supports lifting the ban and some Democrats see nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions.

Environment

The outdoors and programs for clean water, parks, arts and culture have money coming from a new 3/8-cent sales tax. Pawlenty is reviewing legislation to spend $400 million over two years on everything from the emerald ash borer to conservation easements on forest and wetlands.

Foreclosures

Pawlenty has yet to act on a bill that would offer struggling homeowners the chance to go to mediation to renegotiate their mortgages before lenders could go through with foreclosures. Attorney General Lori Swanson and other Democrats have pushed the changes.

Continued Friday