Metropolitan Council adopts public-comment draft of 2026 budget and approves labor, procurement and transit items

The Metropolitan Council on Oct. 22 adopted the public-comment draft of the 2026 unified budget and approved a set of related and same-week management, community development and transportation items.

The council voted to adopt the proposed 2026 unified budget as a public-comment draft. The budget materials and property tax levies are consistent with amounts the council approved in August; the council noted further changes may be made before final adoption in December. Council staff said public comment will be accepted by phone, mail or email until 5 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2025, and the council will hold a public comment period during its Dec. 3 meeting at 6 p.m.

The council also approved multiple management-committee items presented as same-week actions: a three-year labor agreement with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 82 (covering five painters/environmental-services employees); an updated OEEEO Policy 5-1 intended to increase small-business procurement participation and address disparities identified in the 2025 disparity study; and changes proposed to Procurement Policy FM 14-1 that the council said are intended to align council procurement thresholds with statutory updates from the 2025 Minnesota Legislature.

On transportation items the council passed a resolution declaring the Metro G Line BRT…