Minneapolis’ mounted patrol, the last horseback unit in Minnesota, is up against the clock as its barn contract nears expiration in August and recent City Council budget moves trim municipal support. For now the horses still clip-clop through parades and National Night Out events, but riders and advocates say the long-term future of the program is very much in doubt.
The unit’s lease is set to run out at the end of August, and officials peg the annual operating cost at roughly $225,000. Kevin Rofidal, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police, told KSTP that the horses provide a positive presence and that council cuts have left the unit scrambling.
Budget fights and past cuts
In recent budget cycles, the mounted unit has repeatedly landed in the crosshairs of amendments that seek to move dollars into civilian crime-prevention roles. According to the Star Tribune, elected officials have reallocated line items tied to the unit.
City budget files show that the administration has at times covered costs while city leaders shifted funding elsewhere, and a budget response memo warned of specific impacts from mounted-patrol reductions. Those same budget documents note that even modest trims could put pressure on veterinary care and stable expenses…