Any city of the first class in the state, in addition to all powers now possessed by it, shall have the power and authority, acting by and through its council, to fix the maximum expenditures each year for the support and maintenance of its engineering and building inspection departments and to include the amounts so fixed in the current annual tax levy for such city.
Minn. Stat. § 446.01
(1443) 1907 c 194 s 1