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 project a public purpose and authorized staff to acquire the real estate interests necessary for construction, including authorizing condemnation proceedings if parcels cannot be acquired by negotiation. The council also authorized the regional administrator to negotiate and execute a two-year joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Metro Transit to operate weekday commuter bus service between Big Lake, Elk River and downtown Minneapolis at no net cost to the council; Metro Transit will operate three morning and evening trips subject to regular performance reviews with MnDOT and local stakeholders.

In community-development business the council adopted eligibility criteria for a new small communities planning program and for the 2050 planning assistance grant program; council materials say the programs together will provide technical and financial assistance to up to 103 communities (including up to 29 very small communities for direct planning services, 64 local governments for noncompetitive grants, two counties planning for 10 townships each, and one consortium of up to 17 Dakota County communities).

Each motion on the nonconsent calendar was presented by committee staff or the committee chair and approved by roll call or unanimous voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance - Business item 2025-239: Adopt public-comment draft of the 2026 unified budget — Approved (roll call). Public comment accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 3, 2025; public comment session Dec. 3, 6 p.m. - Business item 2025-1126: Authorize labor agreement with International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 82, AFL-CIO (05/01/2025–04/30/2028) — Approved (voice vote reported as carried). Key terms: 3-year term; general wage increases described in committee report. - Business item 2025-263: Adopt updated OEEEO Policy 5-1 (promoting small-business participation and addressing discrimination) — Approved (voice vote reported as carried). - Business item 2025-252: Adopt revisions to Procurement Policy FM 14-1 to reflect 2025 legislative changes to procurement thresholds and language regarding small/disadvantaged business programs — Approved (voice vote reported as carried). - Business item 2025-267: Adopt eligibility criteria for the new 2050 small communities planning program and the 2050 planning assistance grants (policy decision; program budgets and awards to be determined later) — Approved (voice vote reported as carried). - Business item 2025-023 (Resolution 2025-23): Declare Metro G Line project a public purpose and authorize acquisition and condemnation authority as needed — Approved (voice vote reported as carried). - Business item 2025-256 (contract 251100): Authorize joint powers agreement with MnDOT for commuter bus service Big Lake/Elk River–Downtown Minneapolis (2-year, no net cost) — Approved (voice vote reported as carried).

Council members and staff who spoke on record during these items included Ned Smith (staff presenter for the budget), Council Member Andrew Johnson (committee chair and speaker for management items), Council Members Tyrone Carter, Lilligren, Morales, Lindstrom, Jenkins and others who seconded or spoke in committee or at the meeting. Several votes were recorded by roll call for the budget item; other items were approved by unanimous voice vote or recorded as approved in committee and by the full council.

Why it matters: The actions set the council’s public review timetable for next year’s budget, expand procurement and small-business policy tools that the council says are intended to address disparities identified in the council’s 2025 disparity study, authorize property acquisitions to build the Metro G Line BRT, and set the operator and terms for a commuter bus pilot serving Big Lake and Elk River. Several items change council procurement and small-business policy consistent with recent state statutory changes and a new federal interim rule affecting DBE programs (the council noted it is still evaluating the federal rule’s impacts).