The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will seek a property tax increase of up to $3.5 million in 2019 with a portion of it going directly to youth programming.
On Wednesday evening, the board asked the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation to increase its tax levy by 5.7 percent. That could cost the owner of a $249,000 house, close to the city's median value, about $15.50 annually, said the Julie Wiseman, the Park Board's finance director.
The Board of Estimate and Taxation, which sets maximum levies in Minneapolis, will make a decision on Sept. 26.
"We think it's a good chance because we are very much in line with the mayor's recommended budget," interim Park Board superintendent Mary Merrill said Tuesday.
The new minimum wage of $15 and the reclassification of jobs account for part of the 5.3 percent that will maintain the status quo, Wiseman said.
The remainder will be for youth services: $100,000 will go toward expanding current youth programming at the parks and $150,000 toward supporting full-service community schools.
Also known as wraparound schools, they're intended to be go-to places for students, families and communities to find support. In this case, the Park Board and Minneapolis Public Schools could team up for after-school programming.
At Wednesday's meeting, a handful of people spoke in favor of the proposed increase levy because of the wraparound concept.
