Minneapolis mayor, City Council clash over 2025 budget

The budget for the city of Minneapolis is headed to Mayor Jacob Frey’s desk, but he said he will veto a laundry list of amendments that add new spending.

The City Council approved a proposal just before midnight on Tuesday after hours of public testimony and discussion.

The 2025 budget that was approved by City Council was nearly $1.9 billion.

Among several concerns addressed by the council were funding for nonprofits and property taxes.

Frey first proposed a property tax increase as high as 8.3%, which breaks down to around $214 per year for a home of median value. Frey said he would go as low as 6.4% if city council cut some of its nearly 80 amendments.

Council members on Tuesday night approved a record 71 amendments, bringing the original proposed tax levy increase down to 6.9% — which Frey said he would approve, while also rejecting the budget.

City Council members spoke on their budget at a press conference on Wednesday, adding a few digs at Frey.

Frey, joined by city officials, responded in a news conference of his own, stating the budget was “irresponsible” and “reckless.” You can view his news conference in the video player below.

City Council President Elliott Payne responded that he will work with the other councilmembers to override Frey’s veto:

“The fact that the Mayor is willing to veto the entire 2025 City budget because his co-equal branch of government made amendments that accounted for less than 2% of the total $1.88 billion City budget is absurd. Council Members learned of Mayor Frey’s intention to veto through a press release, before he even received the formal budget packet from the Clerk’s office at the time of his announcement. This is unfortunately part of a larger pattern of an unwillingness to work with the Legislative branch of the City. The fact that the Mayor is willing to risk the jobs of over 4,000 City employees and the reduction of basic City services in order to try and score political points is absolutely disheartening. The final budget was passed with 10 votes last night and 62 amendments passed with at least supermajority support. I will do everything in my power to work with my colleagues to overturn this reckless veto.”