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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. Our newsletter comes out the last Friday of each month.
Have content you'd like added? Contact my policy aide Richnetta Land at richnetta.land@hennepin.us.
We are always looking for resident feedback on ways to improve Hennepin County's service offerings. If you have an idea, please don't hesitate to reach out. As an elected official, I answer to you.
Budget Passed
The Hennepin County Board approved a 2026 budget of $3.15 billion. It includes a net property tax levy totaling $1.13 billion, a 7.79 percent increase from 2025. Both the operating and the capital budgets are reflected in the budget and levy.
The 2026 budget focuses on disparity elimination and climate action across all lines of county business and invests in programs and services that aim to improve long-term outcomes for residents in the areas of connectivity, education, employment, health, housing, income, and justice.
“This budget focuses on stability and sustainability while maintaining our critical role as a safety-net provider and supporting our commitment to serving our residents,” says Board Chair, Irene Fernando.
Operating budget
The operating portion of the 2026 budget totals $2.78 billion, an increase of 9.0 percent or $229 million from the 2025 adjusted budget. The county’s operating budget funds the day-to-day services for residents, like plowing roads, library services and providing support for vulnerable residents. Property tax covers approximately 36 percent of the overall county budget. Federal and state sources, fees for services, and other revenues fund the remainder of the budget. The budget allocates approximately:
- 5.1 percent to Resident Services, including elections, libraries and services like driver’s licenses
- 6.1 percent to Public Works to for the transportation network and environmental initiatives
- 11.9 percent for capital improvement projects including county buildings and roads and bridges
- 13.8 percent for Operations and Disparity Reduction lines of business
- 15.0 percent to Law, Safety and Justice which includes Corrections, Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office
- 21.2 percent to Health including the Hennepin Health insurance program
- 26.8 percent to Human Services to support our most vulnerable residents
The budget addresses the current uncertainties from state and federal funding while continuing investments in communities, infrastructure and employees. Further changes or reductions in state and federal funding will put further pressure on local resources.
“We are in the midst of a multi-year strategy to manage financial pressures. This budget represents tough decisions, carefully managed growth, and diligent management in the face of uncertain funding conditions,” said County Administrator Jodi Wentland.
Capital budget
The capital budget includes investment in infrastructure like roads, transportation and buildings to meet current and future needs. The capital portion of the 2026 budget totals $374 million, which is $194 million less than the 2025 adjusted capital budget. The 2025 capital budget finances projects such as:
- The METRO Blue Line Light Rail Extension
- Assessing and maintaining roads and bridges
- Investment in environment and energy infrastructure
- Investment in Public Safety and Judiciary facilities and infrastructure
Budget process
The board approved the 2026 budget after more than nine months of preparations and hearings.
Most recently, the board made final budget amendments and held the annual Truth in Taxation hearing on December 2. Learn more on the Hennepin County budget webpage.
www.hennepin.us/budgets
Hennepin County Awards $1.3 Million in Youth Activities Grants
Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants Program Fall 2025 grant cycle awarded $1,301,924 in grants for Play Areas, Sports Equipment, Arts & Music, and Lifeguard Services.
DISTRICT 1
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Robbinsdale Area Public Schools: $24,500 to host a four-week youth theatre camp, public performances, visual arts field trips, and pathways to backstage disciplines
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Robbinsdale Area Public Schools: $9,950 to purchase a variety of essential athletic equipment that supports both high school athletes and community youth programs
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Three Rivers Park District: $10,000 to purchase equipment and adaptive equipment to expand access to SkiSparks club rental program
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Three Rivers Park District: $10,000 to purchase water safety gear to introduce new communities to water safety education, water-based experiences, and swimming lessons
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City of Brooklyn Center: $50,000 to strengthen youth lifeguard staffing through increased recruitment, training, and retention
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Robbinsdale Area Public Schools: $50,000 to provide youth lifeguard training, training materials, hiring incentives, and prep courses
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City of Crystal: $200,000 to upgrade Forest School Park play area
Share Your Voice and Help Shape Local Government Policies
Apply to a Hennepin County community advisory board!
The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for positions on 10 advisory and watershed district board through its annual open appointment process.
Each fall, the board accepts applications from residents interested in volunteer service positions on advisory boards, commissions, councils and special task forces. Board members will advise commissioners and help set policy on a variety of topics important to the county.
Community advisory board openings:
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Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council
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Birth Justice Community Advisory Board
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Capital Budgeting Task Force
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Community Action Partnership Board
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County Extension Committee (UMN Extension)
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Race Equity Advisory Council
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Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Board
Watershed board openings:
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Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board
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Starting January 2025 – the county board will conduct interviews.
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First quarter of 2025 – the county board will appoint volunteers to the positions.
Calling Student Artists: Participate in Hennepin County's Student Art Contest
Hennepin County is sponsoring a student art contest in partnership with the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Students in grades 6—12 who live or attend school in Hennepin County are invited to enter the contest. Winning art will be honored and exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
This year’s theme - Belonging Begins Here: Our Stories, Our County, and Our Pride – invites students to explore the meaning of belonging through a personal and local lens.
The program encourages participants to reflect on their identities, communities, and shared spaces that foster inclusion and connection. Students will highlight stories, landmarks, and cultural touch points within their districts that bring people together or represent sources of pride.
Contest submissions are being accepted now through January 7.
Walk to End the Silence on January 22
January is Human Trafficking and Exploitation Awareness Month in Minnesota.
Uplift, support and empower survivors and their families at Walk to End the Silence at the Mall of America. The event will also educate the community on how to identify and prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Walk to End the Silence Thursday, January 22, 2026 7 to 9:30 a.m. Mall of America® -- Huntington® Bank Rotunda 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
Holiday Disposal Guide
Between packaging from deliveries, decorations, gift wrap, and more, the holiday season is a time when we often have a lot of stuff to get rid of. To make sure you recycle and reuse as much as you can, review these holiday disposal tips for the best way to get rid of common holiday items.
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Newspaper, Kraft paper, or other plain paper gift wrap (flatten, don’t crumple)
Consider saving for reuse
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Gift wrap that is shiny, glittery, or glossy
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Packaging materials like StyrofoamTM and bubble mailers
Minnesota Paid Leave: What to know and do
Minnesota’s new Paid Leave program begins January 1, 2026. Employers across Hennepin County must prepare now by setting up accounts, notifying employees, and updating company processes.
Rush Creek Regional Trail Winnetka Ave Underpass Complete!
The Rush Creek Regional Trail Ave Underpass is now complete! During my time as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, one of my key goals was to connect and finish our bike path network. Today, I am proud to share that this vision has become a reality!
Park Center Counselor Honored by City for Student Outreach
Brooklyn Park recently honored Park Center Senior High counselor Emily Juaire with a day named after her, recognizing the impact she’s had on students and families. Juaire runs the school’s Pirate Pantry which helps students facing homelessness and organizes projects like the Holiday Backpack program and free formalwear events for prom. She supports far more students than her job title suggests, often meeting basic needs so kids can focus on being teenagers. While she was celebrated by the city, Juaire says the real credit belongs to the community, which consistently steps up with donations and support. For her, the work is about making sure every student feels seen and cared for.
To learn more, check out CCX Media's story
Housing All Veterans Rountable
Last month, I visited the Robbinsdale Veteran Home. What was once an old hotel is now a permanent, dignified home for veterans, made possible through Hennepin County’s innovative hotel‑to‑housing strategy and a strong partnership with MAC‑V. I had a great time talking with the residents and hearing their stories.
Robbinsdale City Leaders Remind Us About Smarter Salt Use This Winter
Using salt sparingly in winter is good for both your wallet and the environment. Just 12 ounces can melt up to 1,000 square feet of ice, so most people use far more than they need. Sweeping up leftover salt and storing it in a dry place helps it work better and last longer. Even small amounts of salt can permanently pollute water, raising groundwater salt levels that many Minnesotans rely on for drinking. Salt also harms pets, wildlife, and lake ecosystems. Cutting back on how much we use is one of the simplest ways to protect our health, our water, and the natural world around us.
To learn more, check out this article by CCX Media
Happy New Year!
From all of us at the District 1 office, we want to wish you a safe, joyful, and happy New Year! Thank you for being part of our community and for all the ways you’ve supported one another this past year. Here’s to a fresh start, new opportunities, and a wonderful year ahead for everyone.
Brrr! It's been pretty chilly out the last couple of weeks... Coming in hot this week are some fun facts about Minnesota winters (no pun intended!).
- The coldest temperature ever recorded in the state was –60°F in Tower in 1996. That’s cold enough for your breath to freeze mid‑sentence.
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The Twin Cities’ snowiest season on record (1983–84) brought 98.6 inches, and some northern areas regularly top 100+ inches in big years.
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It’s rare, but flakes have fallen in May, June, and even September. We truly never fully trust spring...
- In 1994, near Finland, MN, more than three feet of snow fell in a single day (shovels everywhere cried).
- In 1982, the Twin Cities hit a brutal –71°F windchill, cold enough to freeze exposed skin in under a minute.
Contact us
Jeffrey Lunde
Commissioner, 1st District
612-348-7881
Richnetta Land
Policy and Communications Aide
612-685-5489
Ingrid Kubisa
Policy Aide
612-386-1155
Emma Weilage
Policy Aide
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