Session Update: Republicans Promote Bill to Cover Public Safety Expenses

Tensions remain over who should pay the remaining financial costs of the response to the rioting and civil unrest that occurred in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd last summer. Senate Republicans called a press conference Thursday, February 4, to preview a bill that would address how cities pay for public safety during civil disturbances.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, acknowledged that all Minnesotans deserve safe streets, but raised concerns with recent cuts to policing by the Minneapolis city council as well as the city’s outstanding bills for public safety expenses resulting from the summer disturbances. “Too many communities did not get paid when they came to Minneapolis’ aid throughout the summer,” he said.

In response to the unpaid bills and the possibility that Minneapolis will once again need assistance due to the upcoming trials of the police officers charged in the death of George Floyd, Senator Bill Weber, R-Luverne, promoted a bill that will reimburse unpaid mutual aid agreements with other cities through reductions in local government aid.