2026-09-14 Minneapolis Budget Committee Meeting: Mayor's Recommended 2027 Budget Presentations

On September 14, 2026, the Minneapolis Budget Committee, chaired by Aisha Chugtai, met to hear the Mayor's recommended 2027 budget and departmental presentations from the City Attorney's Office, the Office of Public Service, and the Office of Community Safety. The meeting featured significant discussion on budget transparency, public safety investments, and the process for legislative directives.

Consent Calendar

• Approved a legislative directive related to city contracts for 2026 and 2027. The motion passed unanimously with no discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Justice for Mara Samuels advocates (present in chambers): Speakers criticized the Minneapolis Police Department for allegedly destroying evidence in a murder case and expressed frustration with the Mayor's approach to public safety. They called for community collaboration to address violence and cover-ups.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Opening Remarks: Mayor Frye outlined budget guiding principles: truth in budgeting, long-term stability, and focus on core services. He acknowledged difficult decisions, including FTE reductions and program changes, driven by fiscal challenges such as remote work's impact on property values and increased labor costs.

• Procedural Dispute – Legislative Directives: Chair Chugtai and other council members raised concerns about the Mayor's decision to require written memos instead of in-person staff presentations for legislative directives. They argued this reduces transparency and public oversight. Councilmember Warren supported the memo process, citing accountability. Vice President Osman noted that council procedures belong to the council, not the mayor.

• City Attorney's Office Presentation (Kristen Anderson):

  • Budget: $20,000 investment for traffic ticket appeals; FTE count decreasing to 109.
  • Criminal division handles over 10,000 cases annually, with attorneys at 70% above national caseload standards.
  • Civil division faces increased litigation related to federal administration and MDHR settlement agreement.
  • Divestments: one FTE reduction, training budget cut to $4,000.
  • Contracts include social worker JPA with Hennepin County, diversion programs, and workhouse costs.
  • Councilmembers questioned overtime oversight, outside counsel spending, and impact of staff reductions.

• Office of Public Service Presentation (Margaret Anderson Kelleher):

  • Budget: $2.9 million (down from $3 million), with two FTE reductions.
  • PMI (Performance Management and Innovation) will be incorporated into OPS for better coordination.
  • Emphasis on right-sizing budgets and core service delivery.

• Office of Community Safety Presentation (Todd Barnett):

  • Budget: $2 million (down from $2.2 million), one FTE reduction.
  • Departments under OCS include 911, Emergency Management, Fire, Neighborhood Safety, and Police.
  • Special topic: Better planning and monitoring to prevent budget overruns. Monthly meetings with budget chair and vice chair started; weekly overtime memos from police chief.
  • Councilmembers pressed on:
    • Oversight of police overtime (past $20 million overrun).
    • Implementation of off-duty fee system (Councilmember Wandsley noted $2 million potential savings but lack of action).
    • Cuts to violence interrupter programs (Councilmember Chavez and Osman argued these would increase crime; Commissioner Barnett referred specifics to Director Harrington).
    • Lack of transparency around which FTEs are cut and specific program changes.

Key Outcomes

• No votes on departmental budgets; presentations were informational.
• Council members expressed intent to restore funding for violence interrupter programs during budget deliberations.
• Chair requested that Director Harrington provide clear answers on violence interrupter cuts at her upcoming presentation.
• The meeting adjourned to the next scheduled presentation on September 24, 2026.

Note: The meeting date is September 14, 2026, as provided. No agenda or minutes were available; the transcript was the sole source.