City Budget Cuts Neighborhood Funding by 50% – Your Support is Needed
City Funding Cuts: Last year, neighborhood organizations including LHiNC received $20K in base funding from the city. The current version of the budget set for a vote in December reduces base funding to $10K. As stated by the LHiNC board, when similar cuts were presented last year, there appears to be a disconnect between the amount of funding provided and the city’s expectations of neighborhood organizations. To learn more about this funding issue, please read this Southwest Connector article by former council member Cam Gordon: Most local Neighborhood groups losing city funding.
What LHiNC Gets Funding For: For those unfamiliar, Linden Hills Neighborhood Council is a 501(c)3 formed to represent the interests of Linden Hills residents, property owners and business owners. LHiNC serves as a voice of Linden Hills residents, increasing community involvement, and providing two-way communication with the City of Minneapolis and within the Linden Hills community. For a better understanding of what LHiNC’s work in the community looks like and what the city’s expectations are, please check out LHiNC’s 2023-2024 application for city funding. You can also watch this short video, created for the annual meeting by Chair Gina Rautenberg to highlight LHiNC’s work.
What can you do? If you support LHiNC and our work in this community, please:
- Email Ward 13 City Council Member Linea Palmisano to express your support of neighborhood organizations and request the city provide $20K in base funding for every neighborhood.
- The city is currently asking for feedback on Mayor Frey’s recommended 2023-2024 budget. You can provide online comments regarding neighborhood funding and any other budget issues on the City’s website.
- You can attend an upcoming public hearing for people to provide feedback on the budget. The meetings will be held on Nov. 15 and Dec. 6 at 6:05 p.m. in City Hall, Room 317.
Comments submitted online will be entered into the public record and shared with the mayor and council members. The City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting the budget on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
