Minneapolis Climate Budget Fight Focuses on Neighborhood Programs: Mayor's Proposal Would Cut About $4 Million, Affecting Community Gardens, Home Energy Savings and Green Jobs
The debate over Minneapolis's 2027 budget, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, moved this week from the size of the city's financial shortfall to the neighborhood programs that could lose funding. Mayor Jacob Frey's recommended budget would reduce Climate Legacy Initiative spending by approximately $4 million, and climate advocates warn the proposed reductions would affect community gardens, home energy improvements and workforce training.
MPR News reported Monday that a presentation by Minneapolis Health Department official Patrick Hanlon identified three staff positions and $3.6 million in contracts affected by the proposal. Those contracts support local food initiatives, green workforce development and home energy efficiency. Homegrown Minneapolis is among the programs facing cuts: it oversees leases for more than 50 community gardens and supports work involving compost, farmers markets and food waste, and MPR reported its 2026 city allocation was approximately $540,000 and that the mayor's proposal would eliminate its contracts.
Community Power, which is advocating to preserve climate funding, argues that weatherization and clean energy improvements can reduce household utility expenses while supporting local employment, and has urged residents to contact the mayor and council members. The City Council will take up the mayor's budget in the weeks ahead. (Compiled from MinneapoliMedia, October 20, drawing on MPR News reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Minneapolis 市政厅实景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons 文件 Minneapolis City Hall 2012.jpg，Jason Riedy from East Point, GA, USA 摄，CC BY 2.0 授权
