Minneapolis council weighs $6M 'cop city' land deal amid $21M MPD budget overrun
The Minneapolis City Council's Committee of the Whole will consider a $6 million land purchase for a new joint police and fire training center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.[1]
The vote comes as the Minneapolis Police Department finished 2025 at least $21.1 million over budget, driven by $32.9 million in overtime compared with $5 million budgeted.[1]
City staff say the proposed facility would cost about $38 million to $40 million, and they argue the current Hamilton Special Operations Center is leased and space-constrained.[1] Critics warn the project could balloon in cost, noting Atlanta's training center grew from an initial $30 million estimate to about $112 million.[1]
Council Members Robin Wonsley and Soren Stevenson have publicly opposed the purchase, saying the land deal is not a priority amid housing, education, infrastructure, and broader safety needs.[1] City staff also note the city has invested roughly $20 million in the Hamilton site over the past 20 years despite not owning it.[1]
If approved, the land buy would clear a major hurdle for the roughly $38-40 million training complex but would still leave questions about how construction would be funded while the police department is over budget.[1] The Committee of the Whole will debate the measure Tuesday, and a final council vote could follow in coming weeks.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The council’s Committee of the Whole will consider a $6 million land purchase Tuesday for a new joint police and fire training center in Minneapolis.
- The proposed facility is estimated at about $38–40 million, and critics warn costs could balloon, citing Atlanta’s training center rising from $30 million to $112 million.
- The Minneapolis Police Department finished 2025 at least $21.1 million over budget, driven by $32.9 million in overtime versus $5 million budgeted.
- City staff say the current Hamilton Special Operations Center is leased, space‑constrained, and has received roughly $20 million in city investment over 20 years despite not being city‑owned.
- Council Members Robin Wonsley and Soren Stevenson publicly oppose the project, arguing it is not a priority amid housing, education, infrastructure, and broader safety needs.
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