Minneapolis Parks Request Tax Hike For Park Equity And Safety

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioners last week approved a 2023 tax levy increase request. That request now goes to the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation, which can approve or deny the increase.

If approved, the park tax would increase by 6.16 percent and would result in a 1.1 percent increase in city Minneapolis 2023 taxes overall. The increase amounts to about an $18 annual increase in property taxes for owners of median-value homes in Minneapolis.

A resident's tax bill could be higher or lower, depending on the value of their home.

Park officials say the increase will be necessary "to maintain current park service levels and to invest in youth, safety and security, and care for park assets."

“This Board is focused and committed to our youth, particularly those who are in crisis, to providing safe parks, and to streamlining and maximizing how the parks are taken care of,” explained Meg Forney, MPRB President.

Park officials say the proposed tax levy will support three different initatives:

Maintain current service levels

• $260,000 needed to support the MPRB’s 2021 six-year arrangement with the city for the historic $2.6 million youth investment that began in 2022
• $576,000 to offset the State of Minnesota Local Government Aid funding decrease due to the current legislative session ending without passage of a new tax bill

Security

$389,000 for two additional park police officers and the shifting of part-time park patrol agent hours into two full-time park agents

More staff

$443,000 for two project managers and one systems analyst whose jobs will be to "to identify and implement asset lifecycles to maximize maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and capital investments."

"We have the places and services to enrich the lives of every Minneapolis resident. We use racial equity tools and criteria for budgeting park investments and recreation funding, to ensure services and investments are directed to those who need them the most," said Al Bangoura, Superintendent for the MPRB.