Minneapolis mayor vetoes alternative parks funding plan

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges on Tuesday vetoed a Park and Recreation Board resolution favoring an alternative plan for financing neighborhood park needs, citing concerns over the sustainability of funding and lack of public notice for the proposal.

The Park Board is expected to override the veto when it meets on April 6. Traditionally it does that to assert the board's semi-independence.

The plan would boost neighborhood park funding by $11 million annually for 20 years, mostly to repair or replace buildings and outdoor facilities, but also to increase maintenance.

The proposal was unveiled last week by Council Members Barbara Johnson and Lisa Goodman, as well as by key park leaders pushing for a voter referendum on raising property taxes by at least $15 million annually for parks. They hailed it as a historic park-city deal, but a majority of the council has yet to back it.

Hodges faulted backers for voting on the deal the same day it was made public. She said it's either premature or speculative to commit to the deal some of the sources of City Hall funds backers identified. For example, she said large savings projected from pension fund mergers could evaporate if investment earnings lag or legislators take them away.

Johnson said she and Goodman have a meeting with the mayor later this week. "We're going to try and work through some of the issues, if we can, with her and see if we can get her on board," Johnson said.

Hodges, whose veto of the Park Board's earlier resolution seeking a referendum was overridden, said she remains committed to increasing capital spending for parks but wants that reinvestment balanced against competing city needs, especially for street repaving.

Staff writer Eric Roper contributed to this report. Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438

Twitter: @brandtmpls