What's behind the spat over the Hennepin County sheriff's budget
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Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has warned county leaders against raiding her office's budget. Photo: Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images
A Hennepin County commissioner's remarks on the Sheriff's Office budget sparked outrage in Twin Cities law enforcement agencies last week.
Yes, but: The serious money troubles facing Hennepin County that caused the controversy in the first place got lost in the headlines.
Why it matters: Not only is the sheriff's budget at stake, but so are county-run safety net programs, library services, fraud-fighting efforts, the survival of Hennepin County Medical Center — and property taxpayers' bills.
Driving the news: Last Tuesday, before voting to transfer money to the sheriff's office to cover a $15 million budget overrun, Commissioner Marion Greene said, "I'm not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety."
Reality check: The remarks alarmed 41 local police chiefs and mayors, who signed a letter pointing out that many public safety services the sheriff provides aren't optional under state law.
- Greene's apparent suggestion that local police departments might take on more of these responsibilities is "not grounded in reality," the letter said.
- Greene declined Axios' request for comment.
The big picture: The controversy emerged as Hennepin County braces for major shocks to its $3.1 billion operating budget.
- Even if county leaders convince the state to rescue HCMC, officials tell Axios they expect a $32 million cut to federal food stamps and housing grants.
- President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" also saddled the county with more responsibilities in overseeing safety net benefits that will cost millions more to carry out.
What they're saying: "The cuts that are being proposed are devastating to every county in Minnesota," County Commissioner Kevin Anderson recently told the Minnetrista City Council.
Friction point: Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has warned against raiding her office's $170 million budget to balance the county's books.
- For years, a staffing crisis forced Witt's office to lean heavily on overtime and ship jail inmates to other counties.
- A hiring spree helped address these problems. The jail started 2025 with 161 deputies, and ended the year with 237, sheriff's office spokesperson Megan Larson told Axios.
Yes, but: The sheriff's office contends it's funded for $9.6 million less than it needs to pay for all 883 staff positions the county has approved.
- "Although we've raised concerns repeatedly about not funding these filled and authorized positions, we remain underfunded," Larson wrote in an email.
The intrigue: On March 11, Witt publicly floated the possibility of a lawsuit against the commission to protect the sheriff's office budget.
- Two weeks later, Greene made her comments scrutinizing the sheriff's mandate.
What we're watching: The sheriff's office won't be the only budget under scrutiny in the coming months.
- Anderson has suggested Hennepin County Libraries — the county's biggest "non-mandated" line item — may see "service disruptions" as officials look for budget cuts.
- County officials will provide their next budget update in June.
The bottom line: "It's not business as usual," Greene said. "It can't be … given the duress the county is under."