MPD overtime blows past budget, tax hike on table
Minneapolis officials say police overtime has surged far beyond the department's budget, and Mayor Jacob Frey warned a tax increase may be needed to cover the gap.[1]
The city's 2026 budget included roughly $2.5 million for police overtime, while the Minneapolis Police Department has logged more than $20 million in overtime each year since 2022.[1] MPD staffing has fallen from 888 sworn officers before 2020 to a budgeted 731 and an actual force of about 654 this year, a drop officials say is pushing officers into long overtime.[1]
Police leaders say the city needs about 120,000 hours of police time each month, which with current staffing forces each officer to average roughly 183 hours and drives much of the overtime spending.[1] City finance staff estimate restoring the department to 888 officers would cost about $25 million a year, roughly equal to or more than the overtime the city is now projecting.[1]
Frey said he will present a new budget proposal next week and that a property tax increase is one option to plug the overtime-driven shortfall, while council members had not yet commented.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- MPD overtime has exceeded $20 million every year since 2022, while the 2026 budget includes only about $2.5 million for overtime.
- MPD staffing fell from 888 sworn officers pre‑2020 to a budgeted 731 and an actual force of about 654 officers as of this year.
- Police leadership says the city needs 120,000 hours of police time monthly; with current staffing that forces each officer to average roughly 183 hours, driving heavy overtime.
- City finance staff estimate returning MPD to 888 officers would cost about $25 million more per year, roughly equal to or more than current projected overtime spending.
- Mayor Jacob Frey says a tax increase is one option to cover the overtime‑driven budget gap and will present a new budget proposal next week, while council members have not yet commented.
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