Minneapolis mayor, park board at odds over consolidation

Minneapolis leaders are split over whether consolidating park board services with the city could help close a $60 million budget gap.

The disagreement is between Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board over how to address the city’s budget shortfall. Frey said consolidation could reduce costs, while park board leaders said the idea has failed before.

“Every department in the city has taken a hit, they’ve consolidated, they’ve made cuts, they’ve found efficiencies,” Frey said.

Frey said the park board is the only entity that has not negotiated to lower its levy. He has suggested a property tax increase for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of about 2.5%, while the park board is asking for 5.86% of the levy increase, or $5 million.

“There’s only one entity that hasn’t, and that’s the park board; they have not been willing...