City Briefs - Jan 2026

Hennepin County budget UP 7.79%
The Hennepin County Board approved a $3.1 billion budget on Dec. 11 for 2026 with a total property tax levy of $1.13 billion, an increase of 7.79% from 2025. County staff reported that $2.78 billion will go to cover general operating costs and $374 million will go to capital improvements including the Metro Transit Blue Line Light Rail Extension project. From the overall budget, 15% will go to Corrections, the Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office, 21.2% will go to health services including the Hennepin Health insurance program, and 26.8% will go to Human Services.

Federal agents active on Southside
There has been increasing reports of immigration enforcement activities on or near East Lake Street, at Augsburg University and elsewhere on the Southside. Augsburg officials reported that ICE agents pointed weapons at students and staff while conducting an operation on their campus in the Cedar Riverside. The Lake St. Target parking lot was used for a staging area by federal agents and as a protest site for residents. Training sessions are available for those who wish to be present to offer support when ICE activities occur in their neighborhood. For legal aid people can call 1-877-676-6529 and if people see suspected federal immigration enforcement activity they may call the Monarca line at 612-441-2881 to report it.

New Met Council chair
Gov. Tim Walz appointed Southwest resident Robin Hutcheson to serve as the new chair of the Met Council effective Dec. 1, for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027. She led the Minneapolis Public Works Department from 2016 to 2021.
Immigration enforcement restrictions
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved added provisions to the city’s ordinances that strengthen restrictions on city employees and property being used to support federal immigration law enforcement activity in the city. This includes prohibiting city employees from setting up perimeters or controlling public areas for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws and federal use of public property for such purposes.

Humane encampment response
The Minneapolis City Council approved a new ordinance that requires a public health response within 10 days of an encampment forming that includes access to sanitary toilets, menstrual hygiene products, handwashing stations, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, naloxone, solid waste collection, safe needle disposal supplies, weather-safe storage, and information on severe weather relief sites. It also requires pre-closure notice and safe storage of personal property when a closure occurs.

Gas and electric franchise fees
The Minneapolis City Council has approved increasing fees for both gas and electric utilities. Fees will increase by 1% for gas and 0.25% for electricity for residents and between .25 to .5% for commercial and industrial customers. City staff estimate that the average residential household impact would be roughly $10 per year and that the changes would generate about $5 million in additional annual revenue to support the City’s Climate Legacy Initiative.

Hennepin County Waste contract
The City Council approved a one-year contract with Hennepin County for solid waste processing and disposal from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026 at a rate of $85 per ton.