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Committee backs transmittal of Legislative Department's 2026 supplemental requests including $6.2M election funding
Summary
The committee reviewed the Legislative Department's 2026 supplemental budget, including a one-time $6.2 million request for the gubernatorial election, a city auditor proposal for three new positions (~$573,000 ongoing), and staffing realignments; the committee voted to transmit recommendations to the mayor (8-4).
The Minneapolis Budget Committee reviewed the Legislative Department's 2026 supplemental budget and directed Council leadership to transmit the recommendations to the mayor after testimony on June 16.
City Clerk Casey Carl introduced the department's request and said the Office of City Clerk is seeking a one-time $6.2 million supplement to support the 2026 gubernatorial election. "This one-time funding is already reflected within our request," said Katie Smith, Director of Elections and Voter Services, adding the funds would cover temporary staffing, election judges, and expanded early-vote centers needed for the cycle.
City Auditor Robert Timmerman asked for ongoing funding to expand the auditor's office and to create a Special Review and Advisory Services Division. Timmerman said the 2026 request would create three positions (deputy city auditor, division director and an internal auditor) to increase oversight capacity and estimated the ongoing cost at approximately $573,000.
Clerk Casey Carl described internal realignments and said the department absorbed roughly $856,000 in unplanned 2025 costs (including an accessibility audit for the LIMS records system, temporary captioning and initial expenses for a body-worn camera data transition pilot). Carl said some adjustments are funded from vacancy savings and reclassifications and that a proposed 1.75% reduction to the department's base budget is expected to focus on discretionary non-personnel operations.
During Q&A, councilmembers sought clarifications about the one-time election funding, the department's method of covering unplanned costs, and the recruitment timeline for a manager of outreach and constituent services. Officials said the $6.2 million is in the mayor's recommended supplemental request as a one-time amount to cover election-year operational peaks, that unplanned 2025 costs were absorbed from general fund vacancy savings and internal reallocations, and that recruitment for the communications/outreach manager is a summer priority.
Council members moved to direct the Council President and Vice President to transmit the Legislative Department supplemental recommendations to the mayor; the roll-call vote recorded on the transcript shows the motion passed.
