Minneapolis City Council Adjourned Meeting (Budget Adoption) — December 9, 2025

The Minneapolis City Council convened an adjourned meeting on December 9, 2025 to complete action on the City’s 2026 budget, including the property tax levy, the 2026 general appropriation (operating) budget, the 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), bonding requests totaling $213,111,460, and 2026 utility rates effective January 1, 2026. The meeting opened with the 4th and final public hearing on the 2026 budget, then recessed and returned for formal votes on budget resolutions, late amendments, and related directives.

Public Hearing (2026 Budget)

• Mayor’s recommended 2026 budget: presented August 13, totaling $2.03 billion.
• Maximum levy growth: set by the Board of Estimate and Taxation at 8% above 2025 (certified to Hennepin County by Sept. 30; expected final certification by Dec. 29).
• Levy impact (staff estimate): under an 8% levy increase scenario, citywide residential homesteaded properties would see a median increase of $242 on the 2026 tax bill.
• Forecast noted: estimated 2027 current service level levy increase of 5.4% (based on “current known factors”).
• Budget staff highlighted improvements to the online budget book, including clearer staffing (FTE) information and a new “2026 budget changes” section on department pages.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 38th & Chicago / George Floyd Square area: Multiple speakers urged alignment of budget and city actions with the 38th Street Thrive Plan and related business/community support plans, and several opposed a pedestrian mall concept.
  • Erica Thorne (Community Visioning Council, Ward 9): expressed support for the 38th & Chicago Business Coalition, the “24 demands” made after George Floyd’s murder, and asked council to advance the 38th Street Thrive Plan; also expressed support for separating ICE and the City of Minneapolis.
  • Lachelle Cunningham (business/property owner at 38th & Chicago; 38th & Chicago Business Coalition, Ward 8): urged “people-centered” investment alongside infrastructure spending; opposed a pedestrian mall and supported a “flexible open design.”
  • Mylisha Smith (Community Visioning Council co-chair): urged support for neighborhood orgs around the corridor, the business support plan, the community street plan, the Thrive budget amendment, the Roof Depot sale to EP&I, and the ICE separation ordinance.
  • Ace Rice (business owner, Ward 8): supported the Thrive budget amendment, business support plan, ICE separation ordinance, and additional corridor-focused programming.
  • Bridget Stewart: asked council to refer to an “Open Street Flex Plan” and requested consideration of property tax assessment relief/deferral for corridor businesses.
• Worker rights / Labor Standards Co-Enforcement Program: Many speakers thanked council for restoring funding and urged permanent/ongoing commitment.
  • Maria Palacios (District 8) and Veronica (CETUL leader): expressed gratitude that council restored the co-enforcement funding after proposed reductions.
  • Speakers shared experiences of wage theft, paid sick and safe time access, and fear of retaliation, emphasizing the need for enforcement and worker education.
  • Shelly Stein: cited program results “in the last six months” (contract started late): nearly 2,000 workers reached via Know Your Rights trainings, 500+ worksites, nearly 300 workers supported in resolving violations, and 220 workers trained as workplace rights trainers.
• Immigration enforcement and community safety:
  • Russ Adams (Lake Street Council): supported amendments expanding immigration legal services and immigrant/refugee affairs staffing; also supported co-enforcement and street vendor supports.
  • Yusra Muhammad: reported an uptick in hate crimes/vandalism threats and possibly another mosque arson incident; supported amendments increasing staff capacity to assist immigrant communities.
• Public safety / policing:
  • Peter Rickmeyer: requested more funding for police investigators focused on non-lethal shootings; suggested using savings from snowplow “light priority mechanisms” (claimed about $600,000 in savings).
  • Jane Lansing (League of Women Voters of Minneapolis, Reimagining Public Safety Committee): asked council to reconsider Amendment No. 7 and fund a $5.5 million public safety wellness and training center, arguing it is necessary to implement training and the settlement agreement.
• Housing and neighborhood investment:
  • Lane Brown (CANDO, Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization): urged increased dollars for community-controlled Equitable Engagement Fund to support neighborhood-led initiatives.
  • Jay Randolph (Phillips West Neighborhood Organization): urged increased Equitable Engagement Fund support; noted many neighborhood orgs operate with less than $100,000/year.
• Other testimony highlights:
  • Satish Desai (Ward 8): expressed support for the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EP&I) vision (indoor urban farm, community solar, community hub).
  • Howard Dodson: urged funding to track frostbite injuries, overnight Blue/Green Line service (1 a.m.–5 a.m.), more low-barrier shelter beds and fewer encampment clearings, and asked to lift the city’s moratorium on sister city relationships to pursue a sister city in Ukraine; also cited a 26% drop in overdose rates (attributing to city opioid response efforts).

Discussion Items

2025 Property Tax Levies Payable in 2026

• Council adopted the resolution approving the 2025 property tax levies payable in fiscal year 2026.
• Vote: 10–0 (with later note allowing Council Member Wansley to be recorded as an “aye”).

2026 General Appropriation (Operating) Budget

• Council adopted the 2026 General Appropriation Resolution (department operating budgets funded by taxes and fees) as amended.
• Vote: 12–0.

Late/Final Markup Amendments Adopted (All Unanimous)

• Amendment 38 (Budgetary control / financial policy), as amended by 38B
  • 38B (Wansley): required quarterly cost reporting and forecasting of costs related to implementing the City–Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement.
  • Votes: 38B 11–0; Amendment 38 as amended 11–0.
• Amendment 39 (City Auditor Office Remodel) — rollover appropriation to complete office buildout so the City Auditor can office with their team.
  • Vote: 11–0.
• Amendment 40 (Economic Development & Cultural Activation Grant Program) (Chowdhury)
  • Established a grant program for culturally significant events/festivals (examples cited: Juneteenth, Somali Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples Day, Latino Heritage Month).
  • Discussion included whether Ukrainian cultural events could be eligible (author said yes), and a caution raised about cumulative transfers from the Downtown Assets Fund.
  • Vote: 12–0.
• Amendment 41 (Wansley) — Protecting civilian investigators
  • Earmarked $3.6 million for 31 civilian investigator positions in MPD (including two positions council had restored earlier), to prevent these roles from being cut to fund other initiatives.
  • Vote: 12–0.
• Revised Amendment 9 (Immigration Legal Services) (Chavez/Wansley; Osmond added as author)
  • Added additional one-time dollars (on top of previously approved ongoing funding) to meet increased demand; funding source discussions referenced concerns about impacts on school-based clinic funding, with assurances stated that the chosen source would not disrupt services.
  • Vote: 12–0.
• Revised Amendments 11 & 12 (Speak Minneapolis and Cultural Media Programming)
  • Revisions were presented as technical/source corrections requested by administration.
  • Vote: 12–0.
• Amendment 22D (Emergency Housing Voucher CPED implementation) (Wansley)
  • Clarified rollover/availability of $400,000 one-time administrative funding into 2026; discussion clarified total referenced as $1.8 million, consisting of $1.4 million ongoing plus $400,000 one-time.
  • Vote: 12–0.

2026–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

• Council adopted the six-year CIP for 2026–2031.
• Debate centered on the police training facility being included in the capital plan; Council Member Palmisano opposed the overall plan due to this issue.
• Initial vote recorded: 8–4 to adopt; Council Member Osmond then changed vote to “no” on the full capital plan, resulting in 7–5 (still adopted).

Bonding Resolutions (Items 4–6)

• Council adopted three bonding resolutions requesting the Board of Estimate and Taxation authorize issuance/sale of city bonds totaling $213,111,460.
• Vote: 12–0.

Utility Rates Effective January 1, 2026

• Council adopted resolution setting municipal utility rates (including water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste) effective Jan. 1, 2026.
• Vote: 12–0.

Additional Budget-Related Directives/Resolutions (Separate Votes on Some)

• Council considered a package of items connected to the budget but “not technically included” in the adopted budget; items 2, 3, and 7 were pulled for separate votes.
• Passed as a package (items 4, 5, 6 + addendum items 1 & 2): 12–0.
• Item 2 — Community Connections Conference (resolution & legislative directive): passed 11–1 (Cashman “no”).
• Item 3 — Resolution urging termination of city contract with Zen City: passed 11–1 (Palmisano “no”).
• Item 7 — Resolution setting annual salaries for Mayor and Council Members for 2026–2029 term: passed 11–1 (Chavez “no”).

Key Outcomes

• Adopted 2026 budget actions, including:
  • 2025 property tax levies payable in 2026: adopted 10–0.
  • 2026 operating budget (General Appropriation Resolution): adopted 12–0.
  • Late amendments adopted unanimously, including:
    • Settlement agreement cost transparency via quarterly reporting and forecasts (financial policy change).
    • City Auditor office remodel rollover.
    • Creation of an Economic Development & Cultural Activation Grant program.
    • Earmarking $3.6 million to protect 31 MPD civilian investigator positions.
    • Additional funding actions for immigration legal services, Speak Minneapolis/cultural media programming, and Emergency Housing Voucher implementation (including $400,000 one-time rollover).
• Adopted the 2026–2031 CIP (final recorded vote 7–5 after a vote change).
• Approved bonding requests totaling $213,111,460 (12–0).
• Set municipal utility rates effective January 1, 2026 (12–0).
• Approved multiple budget-adjacent directives/resolutions, including:
  • Community Connections Conference (11–1)
  • Urging termination of Zen City contract (11–1)
  • Setting elected official salaries for 2026–2029 (11–1)
• Closing announcement: Council Member Osmond described incidents he said involved ICE actions affecting community members and businesses, stating residents—including U.S. citizens—felt targeted and fearful, and urging neighbor support and continued city response.