How is Hennepin County creating the 2022 budget?
Every year, Hennepin County drafts, debates, and eventually approves a budget. This is called the budget process.
What is the budget?
A budget expresses our County’s priorities by determining the services, projects, and initiatives that will be funded in the next year.
Who develops the County’s budget?
The budget is created by the County Administrator with input from the Hennepin County Commission and from staff.
County Commission – Suggests budgetary changes and approves the final budget by vote.
County Administrator – Oversees the development of the budget with support from staff and provides recommendations to the County Commission.
The Budget/Finance Office – Provides staff support to County Administrator for budget development.
Department Officials – Provides insight, recommendations, and staff support to the County Administrator for budget development.
The Public – Provides feedback and requests through public comment, activism, and meetings with County Commissioners.
How is the budget developed?
The budget is developed through a year-long budget process. This is when recommendations are weighed and priorities are decided upon. I see the County’s budget process is divided into three main phases:
What is the timeline for the budget process?
Minnesota’s 87 counties all have slight variations to their budget process timeline. Hennepin County, Minnesota’s largest county in both population and budget engages in our budget process annually, outlined below.
How can I learn more about the budget process?
County residents have several opportunities to attend budget meetings including the following:
Board Briefings – Board briefings occur throughout the “Requesting” and “Proposing” phases. This is when the County Commission is briefed on important issues and projects in the county, many of which have budget implications.
Budget Presentation - This is when the County Administrator presents the proposed budget to the County Commission.
Vote on the Maximum Levy – This is when the County Commission decides the maximum levy, or the maximum amount the County can collect in taxes for that fiscal year. For 2022, this vote took place on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 during the regularly scheduled Administration, Libraries, and Budget Committee meeting.
Budget Hearings – Budget hearings occur throughout the “Deciding” phase. This is when the County Commission is briefed on the proposed budgets of each county department.
What does the process look like for 2022?
Budget hearings will be viewable online at: hennepin.us/your-government/leadership/board-videos
Below are the dates for 2022 Budget Hearings & Meetings. The staff presentation is linked to the title of each hearing below (this page will be updated as those slides are received) We will also link the video for each once that is available.
Human Services and Public Health: Monday, October 4, 2021, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Video from hearing)
Disparity Reduction: Wednesday, October 6, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Public Works: Thursday, October 7, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Health: Monday. October 11, 2021, 1:00 pm – 4:00 p.m
Capital Budget Public Hearing, Capital Budgeting Task Force (CBTF) presentation and Fees Public Hearing: Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Law, Safety and Justice: Thursday, October 28, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Operations: Thursday, November 18, 2021, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Administrator and Commission amendments: Friday, November 19, 2021, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Administrator and Commissioner amendments: Monday, November 29, 2021, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Truth in Taxation Public Hearing: Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 6:00 pm
County Board approves 2022 budget & final levy: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 – 1:30 pm
Can I impact the budget?
County residents have several opportunities to affect the budget process. However, different approaches are better suited to different phases.
One-on-one meeting with a Commissioner: Most Commissioners are open to meeting with residents to discuss the budget. However, these discussions are most impactful during the “Requesting” or “Proposing” phases.
Public Comment Periods: County’s offer regular public comment periods year-round. During these times, residents can voice budget concerns or requests that the County Commission will consider. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hennepin is taking recorded comments. To learn how to record comments: hennepin.us/your-government/leadership/county-board-meetings.
The remaining Public Comment Periods for 2021 are as follows:
October 12 at 10:00 a.m.
November 9 at 10:00 a.m.
November 30 at 10:00am
Truth-in-Taxation Meeting: An opportunity for public comment and questions around Hennepin’s budget, taxes and their impacts on you. This year, the meeting will be held on November 30 at 6:00 p.m.