Neighborhood news

County budget decreasing 2.4%
On Sept. 22 Hennepin County Administrator Jodi Wentland presented her recommended 2027 county budget of $2.993 billion that is 2.4% lower than the 2026 budget. That includes a proposed $273.4 million capital budget that is 27% lower than last year. She recommended, and the county board approved, a maximum levy increase of 8.15% more than last year. Notices informing property owners of the tax impacts of the county, city, and school district levies will be mailed in November. A hearing on the county budget is set for 6 p.m. on Dec. 1, with final board approval expected on Dec. 15. See Hennepincounty.gov/budgets for more.

City levy increasing 11.9%
On Sept. 29, the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation approved the maximum levies for the City at $501,771,683, the Minneapolis Park Board at their requested $100,518,206, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority at $5,000,000 and the Board of Estimate & Taxation at $252,136 for a grand total of $607,542,025. This is an 11.9 % increase from last year and higher than the 11.8% Mayor Jacob Frey had recommended. Frey and at-large BET member and president, Steve Brandt, voted against the final resolution that passed 4 to 2.

City budget hearings
The City Council has set the following dates for formal budget public hearings this year: Wednesday, Oct. 7, Monday, Oct. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 15. All the hearings are set to begin at 6:05 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 350 Fifth St. S.

NARCAN at Southwest’s Fire Station 12
The City of Minneapolis has installed a NARCAN® vending machine at Fire Station 12 at 5401 33rd Ave, S, offering free and anonymous 24-hour access to the medication used in response to opioid drug overdoses. Other machines are located at Fire Station 5 (2700 Bloomington Ave. S.), Fire Station 14 (2002 Lowry Ave. N.) and Fire Station 21 (3209 38th St. E.)

STILL IN DROUGHT
After a dry summer season, September 2026 yielded a slightly wetter pattern for the region, with the Twin Cities receiving 3.91 inches of precipitation, nearly an inch more than normal for the month. This rainfall did little to combat the total seasonal precipitation deficit, as the year-to-date total remains over 6 inches below normal. As a result, drought conditions lingered throughout the month of September, with most of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District remaining in a severe drought designation according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

MAJONG AT WALKER PLACE BY VIVIE
Mahjong is growing in popularity. And the Walker Place by Vivie has an ongoing game that takes place Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. that they have graciously invited East Harriet persons who are 55+ to join. Email Joselyn. Vanlonden@vivie.org and let her know that you will be coming. And then join the group at 3701 Bryant Avenue South, and the person at the desk will direct you to the games.

INDOOR PORCHFEST Nov. 14
Groove to over 20 bands across five indoor stages at the Meraki building on Saturday, Nov. 14. The event is from 4-9 p.m. and is a fundraiser for the Kingfield Neighborhood Association. Beer, wine, NA beverages, a food truck, art, and local vendors will also be featured.

OPEN MIC NIGHT OCT. 30
Open mic night at Meraki (100 West 46th St.) is on Friday, Oct. 30, 7-9 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.