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Metropolitan Council presents $1.8 billion 2026 operating budget, seeks 2% levy increase
Summary
CFO Ned Smith and division leaders presented a preliminary 2026 operating budget totaling about $1.8 billion and proposed a 2% increase in the council levy. The presentation outlined levies, major revenue sources, and division budgets for transportation, environmental services and community development.
CFO Ned Smith told the Metropolitan Council on Aug. 13 that staff are bringing forward a proposed 2026 operating budget of about $1.8 billion and recommended a 2% increase in the council levy to $97,980,000.
Smith said the council's levy authority is split across non‑debt service (general purposes), debt service for transit and parks, and levies tied to the seven‑county region and transit capital. He described the implicit price deflator — the state measure tied to allowable non‑debt levy growth — and said the council has historically targeted a 2% increase in its levy as a policy goal.
Transportation and Metro Transit: Transportation is the largest portion of the council’s operating budget. Transportation operating sources presented by staff totaled roughly $1,051,000,000. Leslie…
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