|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
Board approves 2020 budget
On Thursday, the Hennepin County Board approved a 2020 budget of $2.5 billion. The budget includes an $869 million net property tax levy, a 4.75% increase from 2019.
Voting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), the board approved a budget of $22.5 million and levy of $16.5 million.
Voting as the Regional Railroad Authority, the board approved a budget of $40.2 million and levy of $30 million.
Read the full news release.
HRA approves major new funding for affordable housing
The approved budget continues the HRA’s strong commitment to affordable housing with more than $14 million in the 2020 budget to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing. This investment more than doubles the HRA’s affordable housing investment from previous years and is expected to create or preserve approximately 850 affordable housing units. HRA funding is a critical piece of the more than $130 million the county directs toward affordable housing, including from state and federal sources each year.
Major affordable housing funding priorities in the 2020 budget include:
- $6 million for supportive housing, representing a $4 million increase, including a $3 million transfer from the 2019 county budget to advance Catholic Charities’ Exodus 2.0 project
- $2 million for a second-round investment in a fund to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing
- $5.5 million for the Affordable Housing Incentive fund, representing a $2 million increase
The increase in funding is driven, in part, by the county’s new supportive housing strategy, which aims to reduce housing disparities by driving development of housing for people with incomes at or below 30% area median income and additional barriers to health, safety, and housing stability.
In 2020, the HRA also expects to issue more than $100 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds, supporting more than 400 additional affordable housing units.
$15.1M state funding for medical examiner facility
The board accepted a $15.1 million state grant for the new regional medical examiner's facility in Minnetonka.
A larger, improved facility will equip staff to handle growing case volumes and help train, recruit and retain the most qualified forensic science professionals.
Construction is slated to begin next spring. Hennepin, Dakota and Scott counties will fund the remaining portion of the facility's estimated $52.9 million cost.
Hennepin County Complete Count Committee for 2020 Census
The Census Bureau estimates that 230,075 (23%) of Hennepin County residents are at risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census.
On Tuesday, the board established a Complete Count Committee to work toward an accurate and complete census count. Commissioner Irene Fernando will chair the committee. All municipalities and school districts in the county will be invited to join.
Learn more at hennepin.us/2020-census.
2020 Youth Sports awards
The board awarded 13 grants for athletic facilities and more than 22 grants for small equipment.
Facility grant recipients
- Brooklyn Center School District 286: $250,000 for tennis courts at Brooklyn Center Secondary
- City of Bloomington: $20,000 for playground at Success Academy
- City of Crystal: $50,000 for rink at North Lions Park
- City of Minnetonka: $125,000 for new gym at Eagle Ridge Academy
- City of Minnetonka: $140,000 for multi-use mountain bike trail at Lone Lake Park
- City of Richfield: $300,000 for universally inclusive playground at Augsburg Park
- City of Robbinsdale: $3,660 for Sanborn North baseball field
- City of Saint Louis Park: $100,000 for a new entrance at Recreation Center/Aquatic Park
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: $23,836 for improvements at Folwell Park and Athletic Field
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: $200,000 for improvements at Phelps Field Park Athletic Field
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: $200,000 for skate plaza at Elliot Park
- Osseo Area Schools: $80,000 for replacement of hockey rink board at Osseo High School
- St. Anthony-New Brighton School District: $280,000 for multi-use turf field project at Central Park
Since it began in 2009, Hennepin Youth Sports has awarded $25.6 million for facility, small equipment and playground projects, along with water safety lessons. Proceeds from the Twins ballpark sales tax support this program.
County leadership appointments
Chet Cooper, assistant county administrator-Disparity Reduction
The board appointed Chet Cooper to lead a new county business line dedicated to reducing disparities for residents. Cooper most recently served as assistant county administrator of the county's Operations line of business and has been with the county since 1985.
The new business line will include county staff from three areas: Center of Innovation and Excellence; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Purchasing and Contract Services.
Dan Rogan, assistant county administrator-Operations
The board appointed Dan Rogan to assume the role of assistant county administrator-Operations. Rogan most recently served as civil division manager with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, has worked at the Attorney's Office for 20 years, and has been a Robbinsdale City Council member for 15 years.
Director appointments
The board appointed the following staff to leadership positions:
Support for affordable housing developments
The board gave preliminary approval to issue housing revenue bonds in support of the following developments:
-
Olson Towne Homes located in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis — reconstruction of 92 units with project-based Section 8 rental assistance
-
Stonehouse Square located in the Sheridan neighborhood of Minneapolis — rehabilitation of 71 rental housing units, of which 29 units will have project-based Section 8 rental assistance, 13 units will be affordable at 60 percent area median income (AMI), and 29 units will be affordable at 70 percent AMI
-
Elliot Twins Apartments located in the Elliot Park neighborhood of Minneapolis — rehabilitation and preservation of 174 units and construction of 10 new units with project-based Section 8 vouchers for all units
Housing revenue bonds are not a debt of the county, but repayable from revenues pledged by the borrower.
Blood drives at Government Center
Memorial Blood Centers will be hosting blood drives at the Hennepin County Government Center throughout 2020. The board approved their request to host the events at today's meeting. Learn more and view blood drive dates.
Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
|
