MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | MINNEAPOLIS AUDIT WARNS OF FRAUD RISK AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN VIOLENCE-PREVENTION CONTRACTS

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 28, 2026). A city audit has raised serious questions about Minneapolis’ oversight of more than 100 contracts supporting community-based violence-prevention programs, concluding that weak monitoring practices have exposed millions of dollars in public spending to fraud, favoritism and political influence.

Minneapolis has spent more than $36 million since 2023 on five major public-safety programs that employ community organizations to interrupt street violence, work with shooting victims, respond after traumatic incidents and prevent conflicts from escalating.

The audit examined the Neighborhood Safety Department’s administration of contracts between 2020 and 2025. Auditors found that contractors frequently submitted invoices without sufficient supporting documentation, while city officials sometimes continued making payments despite missing records or unresolved concerns.

The city also lacked a standardized system for conducting and documenting site visits. Neighborhood Safety Director Amanda Harrington said the department completed approximately 140 visits between spring 2025 and spring 2026, but auditors said those visits were not recorded in the consistent format needed to verify performance.

Auditors additionally found that some contractors contacted City Council members or other elected officials when disagreements arose over contract negotiations or delayed payments. The report said Minneapolis needs stronger controls requiring officials and employees to disclose communications, conflicts of interest and attempts to influence contracting decisions.

The audit was required under a legal settlement reached after attorney Dean Thomson sued Minneapolis over its management of violence-prevention funding. Auditors concluded that the city has not fully complied with the safeguards promised in that settlement.

Mayor Jacob Frey has proposed reducing the violence-interrupter budget by $2.6 million in 2027, arguing that the city has not demonstrated results equal to the level of taxpayer investment. Several council members have pledged to restore the funding, setting up a significant budget debate over the future of the program.

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