Mayor Carter announces City budget proposal
On August 10, Mayor Carter announced his 2024 Budget Proposal. The proposed budget totals $820.5 million, with a general fund budget increase of $16 million and a property tax levy increase of 3.7%. In total, this property tax levy increase amounts to an annual decrease of $26 for a median value home.
Mayor Carter said in his address that the 2024 budget proposal is centered around leveraging one-time funding sources for investments in public safety, while also recommending key general fund investments focused on improving internal services to double down on the city’s enterprise approach.
In addition to an array of investments across city departments, highlights of the 2024 budget proposal include adding four new Basic Life Support positions in the St. Paul Fire Department, making swimming lessons free in city-owned pools and launching the Medical Debt Reset initiative.
The City Council will now begin reviewing the Mayor’s proposed budget and meeting with department leaders on the proposed budget. As required by state law, the City Council will set the maximum property tax levy in September. Budgets may be adjusted, but they cannot exceed the maximum tax levy.
Later this fall, the City Council will hold public hearings on the budget and then will vote to adopt a 2024 budget and tax levy for the city by the end of the year. While the adopted budget may represent changes made by the City Council to the Mayor’s proposed budget, the Mayor has line-item veto authority over the Council-adopted budget.
You can find the full budget proposal at stpaul.gov/departments/financial-services/saint-pauls-budget/2024-proposed-budget.
