At its September 18 meeting, the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) set the 2025 property tax levy for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) at $89,488,432, an 8.27 percent increase to the MPRB levy that is a 1.45 percent increase in the city’s overall 2025 property tax levy of $511,131,042.
During meetings in July and August, MPRB Commissioners approved a proposed 10.07 percent tax levy increase to maintain current park service levels and to care for park assets. Mayor Frey’s August 14 recommended budget, however, set the MPRB levy at 7.01 percent, which would not fully fund existing staff salaries as negotiated in recent settlements or staffing for GRACO park, a new riverfront park in Northeast Minneapolis that is slated to open soon.
“We are thankful the BET passed a levy rate for the park system that invests in employees that serve the community every day and that reduces barriers to program participation. We presented detailed compelling information to the BET about our efficient, mission-driven budget, and we appreciate that higher MPRB levy amounts were proposed by BET vice president Samantha Pree-Stinson and BET members Elliott Payne and Aisha Chughtai, who serve as City Council president and vice president, respectively. The increase that was passed was also supported by BET president Steve Brandt,” explained Meg Forney, MPRB President. “We appreciate our partnership with Mayor Frey. The MPRB’s commitment to providing park access in underserved communities, along with our delivery of park services that Minneapolis residents want and use, have made us one of the top park systems in the nation,”.
Currently, of every dollar Minneapolis homeowner’s pay for property taxes, 7.8 cents go to the MPRB to maintain 7,059 acres of parkland and water, manage the urban forest (park and boulevard trees), and support more than 32 million visits annually to the park system. The 8.27 tax levy increase amounts to an approximate $27 annual increase in property taxes – approximately $2.25 per month – for owners of a median $323,000 value home.
The 8.27 percent tax levy increase includes $3,132,000 for the provision for wage and fringe adjustments and $150,000 to reduce barriers to program participation by providing a city-wide need based free and reduced cost youth programming strategy. It does not include $1.5 million in additional levy funds that MPRB had sought to address inflationary pressures that are impacting the MPRB Budget, funds to provide the standard level of service for Graco Park opening this fall, and a new position for to support assessing and tracking lifecycles for all asset types within the MPRB system. This funding gap will lead to service level impacts to the organization, that will be determined as the MPRB further develops its 2025 budget to be presented to commissioners and the public in October.
“Our budget reflects the unique services we provide – parks, programs, and facilities to enrich the lives of every Minneapolis resident. We need to continue delivering services that attract 32 million visits each year and we need to continue our important work along the upper Mississippi River. Equity and access drive our day-to-day and long-term decisions. We are committed to providing access to parks, trails, and water resources in North and Northeast Minneapolis, which are areas of the city that have historically not had access to the same resources as other parts of the city,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent for the MPRB.
As required by State Law, the BET sets the maximum tax levy for the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Municipal Building Commission, and the Public Housing Authority on an annual basis. The BET process for the annual property tax levy results in a higher level of visibility of the MPRB budget and increases transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the MPRB’s budgeting process. The MPRB’s 2025 budget calendar, budget planning materials and board actions are available at minneapolisparks.org/about-us/budget-financial.
The Superintendent will present a balanced 2025 recommended budget based on an 8.27 percent property levy increase on Oct. 23, 2024. Public comments will be received in November and December. The Board will consider the Superintendent’s budget and adopt the 2025 tax levy and 2025 budget on Dec. 10, 2024. For details, visit minneapolisparks.org/about-us/budget-financial.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independently governed park system featuring 185 park properties totaling 7,059 acres of land and water. Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, waterfront access, trail system, neighborhood parks, recreation centers, recreation amenities and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, visit, play and work. An estimated 32 million annual visits are made to the nationally and locally acclaimed park system.