Mayor’s Minutes: Brooklyn Center’s Budget Update, Community Center Upgrades
Brooklyn Center Mayor April Graves speaks with CCX Media’s Dave Kiser about the city’s budget process–and possible cuts–along with improvements funded by the state for the community center.
Graves said the city council passed the preliminary budget for 2026 in September, which includes a 4.98% levy.
“That’s on average for the typical homeowner whose house is worth around $250,000. It’s an increase of about $150 a year on your city taxes,” said Graves. “There were absolutely no new positions added, similar to last year. In fact, with this, just this modest increase, this was going to require us to actually lay off two staff, and potentially have to close our community center on Sundays, which is the lowest-use day.”
Graves said discussions and deliberations will continue as city council moves toward an official budget in December.
Community Center Upgrades
The city failed to pass a local sales tax option in 2024, but will receive $5.1 million in state funds to help pay for some improvements at the community center.
“We’re going to use that to do some modest maintenance upgrades, things that have been deferred around the pool, the locker rooms, and potentially some of the office space,” said Graves.
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is on November 29 this year, the Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving, and Graves said the city is participating in the Hennepin County Love Local initiative.
“We’re going to continue to see more and more of these smaller, locally-owned entrepreneurs that are going to be the backbone of our economy,” said Graves. “We have to continue to invest in small businesses.”
Random Acts of Kindness
There’s still time to nominate a neighbor for the city’s Random Acts of Kindness program. The deadline is October 17.
“This is really an opportunity for you to highlight the local heroes, the local people who are doing nice things for their neighbors,” said Graves. “That’s what keeps our community moving, and keeps us all strong, is to show up for one another.”
