ELECTION: What Your Board of Estimate and Taxation Does

Serving on the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my public service career. I served as President for the first two years of my term, focusing on strengthening internal processes to make the board more transparent, inclusive, and accessible. We implemented full closed captioning and broadcasted every meeting — not just what the charter required — ensuring accessibility and language justice for all residents. We opened public comment for every meeting, gave the Vice President a formal role in board processes, and began each meeting with a land acknowledgment to honor the communities who came before us. These may seem like small procedural changes, but they laid the foundation for a board that works for the people.

From the start, my work was guided by a co-created agenda with the community, centering those often unheard: unhoused neighbors, youth, elders, and residents of historically redlined areas.

I worked closely with elders in public housing to pass the first public housing levy of $5 million annually since 2010 — a critical step toward addressing the city’s maintenance backlog, correcting for past harms, funding safety upgrades, and fixing unsafe conditions.

I also led the commissioning of the city’s first-ever capital audit disaggregated by Ward, providing clear data for accountability. Collaborating with colleagues and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, I helped secure just over $2 million in critical funding over two years to open North Commons on time, support Graco Park, and fulfill commitments at Upper Harbor Terminal.

BET is unique in the United States. It acts as an independent check on city spending and coordinates among the Mayor, City Council, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. We oversee budgets, set property tax levies, approve bonds for capital improvements, monitor audits, and manage levies for essential services like housing, parks, and libraries.

Public engagement is central to our work, and I worked to ensure residents could meaningfully participate in every decision.

Leadership on a six-person board requires balance, clarity, and creativity. During my tenure, we never reached a deadlock. I focused on moving discussions forward, finding shared understanding, and creating processes that made it easier for the board to act decisively. I led the effort to approve a full-time staffer with benefits, which was critical given that most of my term was unstaffed. I created a work plan process that established shared responsibility, support, and guidance — helping our staffer succeed while ensuring smooth board operations. I also designed onboarding procedures, built communication frameworks with intergovernmental bodies, and corrected an error so the two elected seats could opt into the city’s retirement plan.

I am proud to have been a true people’s champion, never straying from keeping my integrity and centering those who are often unheard and ignored. Unbound by traditional party structures, I earned diverse support across the city — from community leaders to local Green Party and SP-USA chapters — and delivered on every campaign promise in two years.

I broke the public record for public attendance and public comment at a BET meeting by organizing our community and encouraging participation. Being the first elected Black Chicana to this office matters. Representation matters.

It has been an honor to show that even a “small seat” can hold power, demand accountability, and make tangible change. I demonstrated that grassroots organizing, intentional engagement, and community-driven strategy — not money — drive meaningful public service.

How to Choose Among Candidates

Selecting a candidate for BET requires:

• considering innovation within a narrow scope,
• knowledge of budget and bonding process,
• operational knowledge of city governance,
• relationship-building skills,
• transparency,
• and a willingness to ask tough questions.

This role matters because we work too hard for our money for it not to be managed responsibly. BET ensures fiscal responsibility, equitable allocation of resources, and transparent decision-making.

Its independence allows objective oversight, protects community interests, builds trust, and enables bold decisions that prioritize the public over politics.

In short, the BET strengthens fiscal integrity and public trust. Through audits, levy approvals,  budget oversight, and public comment, the board ensures taxpayer dollars are spent effectively, fairly, and transparently. My work on the board has been about more than numbers — it’s been about people, accountability, and proving that a small office, with intentional leadership and deep community connection, can move a city forward.