Hennepin County — Transcript
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
2026 Proposed Budget Overview and Property Tax Levy
Resident Services Line of Business 2026 Budget
Operations Line of Business 2026 Budget
Countywide Disparity Elimination and Climate Action Priorities
Funding Challenges and Strategic Partnerships
Votes (2)
Resident Services Line of Business 2026 Budget Hearing
The Resident Services line of business presented its proposed $162 million budget, highlighting core services such as libraries, service centers, property services, and elections. Key initiatives include expanding local assessing services to Edina and Maple Grove, enhancing voter outreach, and maintaining library programs. Discussion covered the financial stability of libraries with significant contributions from the Friends of Henipin County Library, challenges with rising digital material costs, and efforts to improve customer experience and address disparities through various programs like tax forfeiture navigators and digital literacy.
Operations Line of Business 2026 Budget Hearing
The Operations line of business presented its 2026 budget, focusing on foundational services supporting all county departments. Key metrics included $75 million in discretionary grants in 2024, 942 units of affordable housing supported, and $33.5 million awarded to small and diverse businesses. The discussion also highlighted initiatives in data utilization (Enterprise Integrated Data System), digital and physical accessibility, economic development (Elevate Henipin), and significant climate action efforts like solar installations and energy efficiency. Concerns were raised regarding potential federal funding cuts and the transparency of debt for facilities like the Henipin Energy Recovery Center (HERC).
Notable Quotes (10)
Our combined operating budget proposal totals $162 million, which is an increase of 6.2 or 6.5% from 2025. Personnel services make up 75% of resident services expenditures.
when fully implemented, we're are going to be able to provide local assessing services in these two cities for approximately $800,000 less than it had been costing these cities. A taxpayer savings overall of 30%.
While 81% of Henipin Countyy's registered voters participated in the 2024 election, only 69.8% voted in the 2022 midterms. These rates are comparatively high and there is still room to grow. We're working to increase midterm participations rates in 2026, continuing the county's long tradition of high civic engagement.
The Friends of the Henipin County Library, who have generously committed an additional $1.5 million in 2026, raising their anticipated 2026 donation to $4 million. These dollars help us maintain our library collections and offer educational programming such as let's read.
You know we are in a total crisis of democracy in my opinion specifically as it relates to information misinformation and disinformation. I don't know what we do about that. I don't know how what our role is with that but when we are in a period where even other governments are espousing words that are unconstitutional not factual andor very very harmful to residents what's our role in that I mean I know that it's libraries I know that it's civic and I know that it's voting etc but how so just saying that I guess for us too.
The proposed operating budget for 2026 is $398 million, which is an increase of 8.3 million or 2.1% compared to the 2025 adjusted budget.
In 2024, the county was awarded 75 million in discretionary grants. These funds help us make progress on our dispar disparity elimination commitments. The majority of the 2024 funding supports our efforts in the disparity domains of health with 21.7 million awarded, connectivity with 24.3 million awarded and justice with 9.5 million awarded.
The county's Elevate Henipin has become a powerful engine for inclusive economic growth, providing hands-on support and resources to help our local businesses start, scale, and succeed. To date, this unique model has served over 4,000 entrepreneurs, launched 263 new businesses with 68% of those led by entrepreneurs of color.
Facility services has implemented proven programs to optimize building operation and energy efficiency across more than 100 county buildings. It continues to reduce energy by 3% each year, moving towards the county's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from the 2010 levels by the year 2030.
I think this board supported creation of the chief compliance officer role and the efforts were um that are underway to uh we have good compliance work going on... to try and make sure we have that framework in place and coordination across all of the departments that play a role in oversight and monitoring.
Ordinances & Resolutions (35)
The overall budget plan submitted by the County Administrator, totaling $3.09 billion.
A 7.79% increase adopted by the county board on September 25th.
Website where the 2026 proposed budget and hearing schedule are available.
An equity-focused redesign of the tax forfeiture process to support housing stability.
Digitizing property notices to save county money and reduce emissions.
New in-house system being built by the Assessor's office to replace outdated commercial software, saving over $1 million.
State privacy law for which Land Information and Tax Services must implement compliance measures.
State privacy law for which Land Information and Tax Services must implement compliance measures.
State privacy law for which Land Information and Tax Services must implement compliance measures.
A 20-year horizon plan for library infrastructure, including current building fixes and potential replacements.
A one-time grant-funded program for new arrival individuals and families, previously supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.
A state fund that provided a grant for the Apendos Huntos program in 2025.
A county fund including funding for public programming and contributions to organizations like the Henipin History Museum and U of M Extension.
A fund associated with the ballpark sales tax, supporting youth activities grants.
A fund supporting affordable housing initiatives.
Funds designated for paying down county debt.
Debt retirement fund with a major increase of $20.9 million in the 2026 budget.
Internal service fund for Central IT, with departments paying fees for services.
Funding primarily expanded through the ballpark sales tax.
One of the organizations receiving funding through General County Purposes.
One of the organizations receiving funding through General County Purposes.
Program focused on establishing long-term research needs through the county's learning agenda.
Receives partial funding through General County Purposes.
An organization to which the county pays dues.
An organization to which the county pays dues, with fees based on population and state funding formulas.
A system that brings together information from over 20 county systems to inform strategies and services.
A resource designed to help departments align their work to climate action priorities and strategies.
County system used to leverage environmental data sets for climate response.
A new facility featuring geothermal and voltic energy systems, meeting B3 standards.
Building standards met by the Public Safety Services Headquarters.
A one-time housing initiative that is winding down, contributing to budget reductions in Economic and Housing Development.
Department of Justice rule going into effect in April 2026, requiring digital accessibility compliance.
The county's new main digital platform, prioritizing standardization and accessibility.
A project supported by data analysis on population overlap between DOCCCR and Child Protection to coordinate services.
An initiative providing support and resources to local businesses, particularly entrepreneurs of color.