City leaders in Minneapolis have approved a budget for 2026 after weeks of tense negotiations, long meetings, and last-minute changes that nearly led to a mayoral veto. The agreement was announced jointly by Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai, who thanked council members and city staff for working through deep disagreements to reach a deal they say will keep city services running, protect workers, and reflect shared priorities.
The path to approval was anything but smooth. An unusually emotional City Council meeting was held to finalize amendments to a budget that had already passed the council the previous week. For much of the day, some council members were unsure whether the meeting would even take place. When it finally began, key city staff had already left for the day and had to be called back, delaying proceedings by nearly an hour.
The purpose of the meeting was to address possible vetoes by Mayor Frey. Although the council had approved the budget earlier, the mayor said he only agreed to sign it with the understanding that several changes would be made. According to Frey, those changes were discussed in a series of meetings with council leadership over the past month. However, some council members said they were caught off guard by the scope and timing of the adjustments.
One of the most debated issues was funding for emergency housing vouchers meant to support people experiencing homelessness. In the original budget, the council planned to pay for part of the program by reducing funding for the police department. A key amendment reversed that decision by restoring $1 million to the police budget and preventing staff cuts in the mayor’s office. Critics argue that this change weakens the city’s commitment to addressing homelessness.
Council member Robin Wonsley strongly criticized the late-stage negotiations, saying they undermined both the council’s unanimous vote and public input. She expressed frustration that closed-door talks between the mayor and council leadership led to changes she believes alter the heart of the original agreement. Her biggest concern was that the amendment removes a longer-term commitment to funding housing vouchers, replacing it with a more limited approach.
Other amendments focused on public safety issues, including clarifying how a non-fatal shooting task force would be created and how police investigators would be funded. While these changes were framed as technical clarifications, they added to the growing tension over how decisions were being made.
Longtime council member Linea Palmisano also raised concerns about the breakdown in trust between the council and the mayor’s office. She warned that the near-collapse of what was described as a “good faith” agreement highlighted deeper problems in how city leaders work together. Addressing her colleagues, especially those returning for another term, she urged everyone to reset and improve collaboration in the year ahead.
Although the full details of the final budget have not yet been released, Mayor Frey outlined what he called the most critical changes in a letter to council members. These include revising the funding source and time frame for the emergency housing voucher program, clarifying the structure of the non-fatal shooting task force, and adjusting earmarks for civilian police investigators. Frey also voiced concern about more than $10 million in added spending, warning that it could put pressure on property taxes in the future.
Despite lingering disagreements, the budget’s passage ensures that Minneapolis will continue operating without disruption in 2026. However, the intense debate and strained relationships exposed during the process suggest that tough conversations lie ahead as city leaders balance public safety, housing needs, and financial pressures.
