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Metropolitan Council adopts preliminary 2026 budget, approves transit contracts and Northstar service changes
Summary
At its Aug. 27 meeting the Metropolitan Council approved a preliminary 2026 operating budget and property tax levy, authorized two transit technology and security contract packages and approved suspension of Northstar commuter rail service with enhanced bus service in the corridor.
The Metropolitan Council on Aug. 27 approved a preliminary 2026 operating budget that sets an upper limit on the property tax levy and adopted a package of transit-related contracts and service changes.
Council member Johnson moved adoption of business item 2025-169 and related resolutions; the motion passed. "The preliminary budget authorizes an overall property tax levy of $97,980,000 which is a 2% increase from the previous year," Johnson said when presenting the item. Council members were told the levy figure is the upper limit the council will set in December for property taxes payable in 2026.
Why it matters: Adoption of the preliminary budget begins the council's budget process. Under the schedule presented, the council will incorporate the capital budget in October and adopt a unified final budget in December; at that point the council may reduce but not increase the property tax levies set in the preliminary budget.
Alongside the budget vote the council approved a set of transit actions that council members said address both rider information and security and reflect service changes since the 2020 pandemic.
- Metro Transit supplemental security and trip agent services: The council authorized the regional administrator to negotiate and execute contract 24P301 with Intercon Security to provide supplemental security officer and trip agent services in an amount not to exceed $57,400,000. Council member Parker, presenting the transportation committee recommendation, said seven proposals were received and "the evaluation panel determined that the proposal submitted by Intercon Security was the most advantageous to the council." The motion passed.
- Suspension of Northstar commuter rail service and enhanced bus service: The council approved a motion to suspend Northstar commuter rail service and to implement enhanced bus service in the North Star Corridor within the seven-county region. Council member Barber, who presented the item, called it "a challenging decision" and said staff and the transportation committee considered alternatives and outreach. The council approved the suspension and the enhanced bus plan.
- Transit information modernization contracts: The council authorized the regional administrator to negotiate and execute contracts 24P213A–D for transit information software and services in an amount not to exceed $25,608,547. Barber said the procurement is part of "a broader effort" to upgrade rider-facing information, including real-time detour information, improved next-departure predictions and better integration of Metro micro on-demand service.
Votes at a glance: The council approved the preliminary 2026 budget and each of the transit items presented on the business agenda. (The meeting record shows roll-call participation and affirmative voice votes during the business-item block.)
What was not decided/next steps: The budget action set an upper levy limit; the council will finalize levy and the unified budget in December. Contract awards require final negotiation and execution by the regional administrator; service changes for the North Star Corridor will be implemented pursuant to applicable contracts, agreements and operational planning.
Speakers and documents cited at the meeting included the business item numbers and contract references listed above and the resolutions accompanying the preliminary budget.
