This newsletter takes a close look at how Minneapolis’s 2025 budget was finalized and what the process reveals about trust, transparency, and power at City Hall. It examines the late-breaking deal between Mayor Jacob Frey and Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai that allowed the mayor to sign the city’s $2 billion budget, a move celebrated publicly as “collaboration” but criticized by Council Member Robin Wonsley as a closed-door process that sidelined weeks of council work.
The piece contrasts the significance of this budget fight with how quickly it was overshadowed by sports ownership news, then digs into internal council dynamics, leadership maneuvering, and why some members believe trust between the council and the mayor has eroded. It explains concepts like “impoundment,” where the mayor is accused of quietly withholding funds the council approved, and why that concern is driving a push for stricter oversight and reporting requirements. The newsletter closes by looking ahead to the four new council members taking office in 2026, arguing that while many leaders talk about collaboration, the real test will be whether they can translate good intentions into transparent, accountable governance when the stakes are high.
Is this why my property taxes have increased 40% in 4 years?
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So the city/county cut spending, right? Right?!?!
Naw, but thankfully the wealthy who own that commercial real estate have lower taxes now, which I hear trickles down somehow
Wait; you mean to tell me there weren’t spending cuts?! How could they be so fiscally irresponsible !
Population growth causes increasing demand in budgets?! Crazy man!
For real tho I am really not digging the property tax increases and there needs to be a reckoning or they won't have homeowners to tax instead to commercial owning companies
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People don’t understand a 3% -4% profit margin isn’t making you rich. Take a liquor store, owner works all shifts, 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. He sells 2 million in liquor. If he hits 4% profit he is paid 80k. While risking a million.
I don't think anyone is saying liquor store owners are the wealthy who own the commercial real estate. Nobody wants to go after small business owners. They want the people who have enough money to control politicians to not have that massive amount of sway anymore.
I don't think we are talking about the same things here. I'm not saying the small business owners should pay more. If anything a lot of them are over taxed and it's bullshit that a larger company can get away with less taxation overall due to loopholes they can take advantage of.
Essentially there is an issue where American politics now revolves around making sure the wealthy get what they want because they spend the money for their elections.
Being able to have a level of wealth that can sway elections should not exist, anywhere, in any form of democracy. The tax burden on large corporations and wealthy individuals is decreasing while the demand on everyone else is increasing.
We don't need more taxes from average homeowners, or small businesses. It's almost like these are targeted to push them out or make them sell.
The value of your house increased by 40% in four years.
Bought in 2021. I think mine has basically stayed flat in value.
Are you talking market value or taxable value? There was an attempt by Minneapolis to essentially artificially reduce the growth of homes taxable value after COVID in order to help reduce the financial burdens on families in the city. That is no longer the case, and now taxable values are starting to more closely reflect market value, which people are not happy with as that's where the majority of the increase in their tax bill is coming from, not any increases in the tax rate.
If you're just talking about the market value of your home staying flat for the last four years, then I don't believe you.
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Accountability is key!!!