Hennepin County Board Adopts 2019 Budget
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 5:53PM
Via a December 11 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:
The Hennepin County Board approved a 2019 budget of $2.4 billion at its meeting on Tuesday. The budget includes an $830 million net property tax levy, a 5.20 percent increase from 2018.
From workforce training to food assistance, and health insurance to disability services, 1 in 4 people living in Hennepin County receive direct services from the county. The budget addresses shifting needs and increased demand for services.
“The County Board took a hard look at the 2019 budget and engaged in active conversations about priorities and spending,” said County Board Chair Jan Callison. “This budget is the product of that robust engagement; it seeks to meet resident needs in a fiscally responsible manner.”
Budget priorities
- Child well-being – preventing the need for child protection by supporting healthy children and stable families
- Disparity reduction – addressing disparities that affect residents in the areas of education, employment, health, housing, income, justice and transportation
- Housing – preserving affordable housing, reducing the number of evictions and preventing homelessness
- Public health – focusing on the early impact of health outcomes and investing in early intervention in cases of mental illness and addiction
- Transportation – developing a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system that includes transit, bikeways, sidewalks and roads
- Workforce development – supporting career and educational opportunities for adults and children who face barriers to employment
The budget focuses on maintaining fiscal responsibility and leveraging existing funds and resources, rather than using new money to create pilots and initiatives.
“This budget enables us to respond to ongoing and diverse needs in Hennepin County, ” Callison said. “Our services empower residents to become self-sufficient and enable our region to thrive.”
Learn more about the budget process
Budget adoption follows more than six months of budget preparation and hearings. Commissioners amended the proposed 2019 budget on November 29 and December 5.
November 29 budget hearing video
