The Board of Commissioners reviewed recommended edits to the 2027 state legislative platform, debated repurposing a $26 million bonding appropriation, and voted to progress both the priorities and the full platform to the Nov. 10 meeting for final action.

Vice Chair Kevin Anderson and County Administrator Jody Wendland opened Hennepin County’s first 2027 budget hearing, outlining a $2.993 billion proposed budget built on a maximum 8.15% property tax levy increase and previewing a series of line-of-business hearings through October.

County presenters said most Disparity Elimination (DE) budgets move from Fund 10 into Human Services Fund 20 for 2027, yielding an overall DE operating budget of roughly $38.6 million and a net staffing decrease of 13 FTEs driven largely by transfers and an expiring grant rather than program closures.

Operations leaders told the Administrations Operations and Budget Committee that the proposed 2026 operations budget is $398 million, highlighted $75 million in discretionary grants managed in 2024, housing investments and energy and digital infrastructure goals including a target to produce roughly 10% of on-site electricity from solar.