Yesterday, the Minneapolis City Council adopted a 2025 City Budget. The Council adopted city budget includes $1.880 billion in expenses, $1.893 billion in revenues, and a 6.9% property tax levy increase. The Council lowered total expenses, revenues, and the property tax levy increase. 

From the beginning of the City’s budget process, I made one thing clear: reducing the property tax levy increase was the top priority. After the Mayor proposed the highest property tax increase in over a decade, I worked tirelessly to put this City and its residents’ financial security first. This achievement isn’t just a promise kept—it’s a real relief for Minneapolis residents. 

I proposed amendments lowering the Mayor’s property tax levy increase by 1.19%, and Council Members proposed an additional amendment lowering the property tax levy by 0.21%, that the Council approved. Together, the Council lowered the property tax levy increase by 1.4% 

During the City Council’s markup of the Mayor’s recommended 2025 City Budget, Council Members proposed amendments reprioritizing spending to meet the needs of residents. I proposed additional amendments funding public safety, housing, economic development, and community. 

Council Member Koski’s Additional Adopted Amendments:  

• North Minneapolis Community Safety Center and 4th Police Precinct: The Mayor proposed a recommended 2025 City Budget that planned for the redevelopment of the 4th Police Precinct. I proposed an amendment to instead plan for the redevelopment of a North Minneapolis Community Safety Center and 4th Police Precinct that the City Council approved. I believe that like South Minneapolis, North Minneapolis also deserves a state-of-the-art Community Safety Center. 

• Affordable Homeownership Preservation: The Mayor proposed a recommended 2025 City Budget that cut funding for the City’s Affordable Homeownership Preservation program. I proposed an amendment to increase funding for the program that the City Council approved. This program helps low-income/fixed income, BIPOC, and senior individuals fund home repair projects from outstanding housing orders and provides wraparound services to support housing stabilization and prevent displacement. 

• Latino Cultural Destination: I proposed an amendment to fund an economic development plan for a Latino Cultural Destination that the City Council approved. The Latino Cultural Destination will celebrate and showcase Latino culture and have a strong economic impact by creating jobs, driving economic vitality, and establishing a cluster for economic growth that benefits both the Latino community and the City at large. 

• Small Business High-Road Labor Standards Intervention Pilot Project: The Mayor proposed a recommended 2025 City Budget that cut funding for the Small Business High-Road Labor Standards Intervention Pilot Project. I proposed an amendment to sustain funding for the pilot project that the City Council approved. The pilot project provides I/BIPOC small businesses with much-needed support services including education, one-on-one meetings with bookkeepers, access to HR software, and ongoing support to help them meet and exceed the City’s labor standards. 

• Senior Services The Mayor proposed a recommended 2025 City Budget that cut funding for senior services. I proposed an amendment to increase funding for and scope of senior services that the City Council approved. Minneapolis has a growing senior population, and a growing need for services that enable seniors to maintain independence, participate in the community, and age with dignity. 

I also co-authored amendments funding the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program, Senior Housing Code Abatement, Labor Standards Co-Enforcement, Senior Transportation Programs, and Zero Waste Planning that the City Council approved. 

It’s been a long process—from the community engagement I did with residents in the beginning of the year, to the Mayor’s budget address in August, to Budget Committee review and deliberations, and finally to budget adoption last night. Thank you to all the Ward 11 residents who engaged with this process—through my resident survey, Ward 11 meetings, emails and calls to my office, and public hearings, your input guided me through this process!