Minneapolis City Council Overrides Mayor’s Budget Veto

MINNEAPOLIS— In a historic first for Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the City Council’s proposed $1.9 billion budget, only to have his veto overridden by the Council.

On Thursday, despite pushback from Mayor Frey, the Minneapolis City Council voted 9-4 to approve the vetoed budget.

Frey has been vocally displeased with the now-approved budget, which adds $6.5 million in new cash spending, calling it “irresponsible.”

On a local radio show, Mayor Frey insisted, “It is the most reckless budget that I’ve ever seen.” He continued, “We don’t have that money to spend. It is not free. It is taxpayers that will ultimately foot the burden. Whether it’s this year or year’s to come, they’re going to feel it.”

According to Frey, $15.9 million was cut from City departments and allotted, instead, to new or manipulated programming.

The budget also included $1.8 million in cuts for the Minneapolis Police Department, which both Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Frey were critical of. Frey was also critical of deep cuts made to the funding of security contracts put in place to prevent the set up and expansion of encampments for unhoused communities.

Meanwhile, in a statement, City Council President Elliot Payne expressed excitement and gratitude over the passing of the proposed budget.

“It was actually really refreshing to meet with the city attorney’s office over our lunch recess as we had to figure out what are we going to do if the mayor vetoes the budget, right? And to see the city attorneys kind of be excited about that conversation, you actually gave me a lot of peace,” Payne said.

Council members who voted to override the mayor’s veto include Robin Wonsley, Jeremiah Ellison, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman, Jason Chavez, Emily Koski, Aurin Chowdhury, Council President Elliot Payne and Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai.

Council members who voted to back the Mayor’s veto include Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Andrea Jenkins and Linea Palmisano.