Minnesota cities ask state legislature to share costs of Operation Metro Surge
Post Date:April 22, 2026 8:30 a.m.On April 21, the Senate Taxes Committee heard testimony on SF 5038, a bill that would reimburse Minnesota cities for documented municipal costs incurred during Operation Metro Surge. Mayor Julie Deshler of Crystal and Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley testified on behalf of the Cities for Safe and Stable Communities Coalition, a nonpartisan group of 33 Minnesota cities, urging lawmakers to pass the legislation.
Coalition cities have already incurred more than $400,000 in direct costs with police overtime, emergency communications, and staff response. Cities deployed an additional $1.4 million in emergency grant support and have $180,000 still pending. In Brooklyn Park alone, the city deployed more than $600,000 in combined grants, rental assistance, legal support, and food resources, while diverting over 250 staff hours to surge-related response.
The economic toll extended well beyond city hall. Hundreds of local businesses across coalition cities reported monthly revenue losses of 50 to 100 percent during the surge. In Richfield, January sales tax receipts came in $100,000 below projections — a 30 percent drop. Coalition cities also reported more than 1,000 students switching to remote learning, resulting in fewer school lunches served and increased food insecurity. Meanwhile, requests for rental assistance have increased, straining both municipal resources and local nonprofits as housing insecurity rises.
SF 5038 would create a one-time reimbursement mechanism for cities, requiring the State Auditor to verify documented municipal costs. The coalition is calling on committee members to advance the bill.
"While the surge has ended, its effects are still being felt in communities across the metro and Minnesota. Cities absorbed unbudgeted costs tied to public safety, local services, and economic disruption during the surge, which is currently affecting our businesses, schools, and families," said St. Louis park Mayor Nadia Mohamed. "St. Louis Park will be recovering for some time to come as we work to shore up local businesses, provide food and rental assistance, and rebuild trust. Local governments have limited tools to manage these pressures on their own, and 2026 relief would help stabilize budgets and restore core services on which residents rely."
The coalition supports the rule of law and respects federal authority, but Minnesota’s cities should not be left to absorb the costs of federal actions without recourse. SF 5038 represents a limited, accountable step toward recovery for affected communities.
