City budget update: council endorses funding for new diversity director position

In a 6-1 vote Monday, the Rochester City Council voted to move forward with the proposed 2021 budget. While the budget will not be officially adopted until December, many burning questions left from last week’s discussion are now answered. Here are the main takeaways.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

The proposed budget includes $160,000 in funding to create a ‘diversity, equity and inclusion director,’ tasked with — among other things — creating an equity plan for the city and leading the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). 

The position was included in the final vote, but the council was not unanimous in support — Council President Randy Staver cast the lone ‘nay’ vote against the budget, saying his vote was cast specifically over the position’s inclusion. 

Council Member Shaun Palmer voted in favor of the budget, but shared Staver’s sentiments during council discussion.

“We do a lot for diversity and equity,” said Palmer. “I don’t know what this person exactly would do. I don’t know what outcomes we would get from this. We fund the Diversity Council, we have GARE, we have a lot of diversity and inclusion in the police department. It’s not something that is burning a hole in our pocket right now that we have to do.” 

All other council members who spoke during the discussion spoke in favor of the position’s creation, in addition to Mayor Kim Norton. The mayor said months of internal research indicated a need for the position, even in a difficult financial time.

“It is very clear that the city needs to have a position that will help us focus as a city to make sure we are safe and inclusive and equitable across our policies, procedures and the community at large,” said Norton.

Recruitment for the position could start at any time, with a goal of filling the position by the end of the year.

Outside agency funding drops

Some outside groups that receive city funding are facing a proposed cut in their payments.

 The payments will be handled in two different groups: facility-related and program-related expenses. The groups that operate out of city-owned buildings — 125 Live, Rochester Art Center, and the Rochester Civic Theatre — will receive the same amount of financial support as they did in 2020, but will only be released after the ‘one roof’ concept approved by the council in August is put into motion.

For most agencies that fall into the program-related category (History Center, Human Rights Commission, Southeast Minnesota Initiative Fund), city funding will most likely drop 10 percent from last year. The Greater Rochester Advocates for Universities and Colleges (GRAUC), however, stand to lose 50 percent of their funding.

The council will have another opportunity to continue the conversation in their October 5 meeting. As we previously reported, there will be no increase in the property tax rate for 2021.

For more on next year’s city budget, including an interview with City Administrator Steve Rymer, listen to the latest episode of the Rochester Rundown, on our website and your favorite streaming service.

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Cover photo licensed via Canva