City of St. Paul City Council, September 2025. From left Cheniqua Johnson, Nelsie Yang, HwaJeong Kim, Rebecca Noecker, Molly Coleman, Saura Jost and Anika Bowie.

St. Paul City Council Adopts 2026 Budget

Jan 6, 2026

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The St. Paul City Council unanimously approved the city’s 2026 budget, finalizing a $883 million spending plan shaped through collaboration with the Carter administration and aimed at maintaining core services while limiting tax increases.

The budget includes a General Fund of $404.9 million and a 5.3% property tax levy increase, amounting to about $107 annually for a median-value home. City leaders said the plan reflects weeks of joint work to address fiscal challenges, restore key services and avoid layoffs.

Major investments include $13.9 million for housing and economic development, with funding for downtown office-to-housing conversions and housing affordability efforts. The budget also dedicates $3.8 million to modernizing city services, including cybersecurity upgrades following an August cyberattack, and $1 million to fentanyl and opioid response efforts.

The council restored funding for fire and emergency response, libraries and recreation centers, and maintained support for the Commercial Corridors program. Savings were achieved through eliminating vacant positions and increasing ambulance transport fees, which are typically covered by insurance.

Council President Rebecca Noecker said residents consistently called for a focus on basic services and restraint on taxes. Mayor Melvin Carter emphasized that the cooperative process positions the city to manage uncertainty in federal funding while continuing to invest in community priorities.

City officials described the budget as a balance between fiscal responsibility and sustaining services residents rely on daily.
Find the full 2026 budget at stpaul.gov/departments/financial-services/saint-pauls-budget.

City of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Mayor Melvin Carter Property Taxes St. Paul City Council

Comments

One response to “St. Paul City Council Adopts 2026 Budget”

Pat

June 29, 2026

It is about time our civil servants( elected officials )recognize that those of us paying their salaries are stretched as far as we can go. St Paul and Minnesota taxes are forcing us out of our homes and prevent new people coming in. You can build and build but until it is affordable home ownership is not in most people reach( include retirees trying to stay in their home( can’t afford to rent)
Recently I wrote city council members when they announce giving ‘themselves’ a pay raise. It is not a full time job. They work for use and we have no say on pay raise???
I wrote each one that concideration as to who PAYS their wages. We the majority of the public that pay their wages would LOVE to make 79,000$ annually . These tax payers are working 5 days a week year around, weekends, holidays, evenings, nights, take work home all year round and sone working 2 jobs.
Most council members responded” thank you for your input and it will be taken into concideration. Except ward 6 Nellie Yang spokes person who responded’ we do not consider the constituents when considering the pay scale’ consideration is peer pay. WHAT !!!!!! You don’t consider that those paying the wage, the people you work for are making less??? Peer groups have variable ie cities with a lot of business/ industry to aid in tax base vs St Paul with minimal aid from business.
This us what is wrong in government( freedom to add to salary with NO oversite and decision making with NO concern with the people footing the bill

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