The number of Minnesotans seeking special education and long-term care services is growing fast, and the assistance they receive is increasingly expensive. State budget officials recently highlighted those services for people with disabilities as the biggest drivers of state spending, contributing to a potential deficit in a few years. But experts in those fields say the rising demand and expense is not surprising, and the state should have been prepared. And, many said, legislators should be ready for the trend to continue. “First of all, this is not new,” said Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, noting that demographers say the oldest baby boomers will start turning 85 – a key age threshold in terms of needing long-term care – in 2031. “Whether it’s individuals or politicians, they are all very skilled at kicking the can down the road. And we don’t address things until it’s a crisis.” Tap the link in our bio to read the full report by Je...