St. Paul’s Talent and Equity Resources reviews 2026 budget cuts, vacancy plan for Human Rights department

Director Tony Newborn of Talent and Equity Resources briefed the St. Paul City Council Budget Committee on the department’s 2026 proposed budget changes and on the ordinance-driven hiring process for the Human Rights and Economic Opportunity (HERO) director.

Newborn said TER proposes ongoing savings through backfilling vacancies at lower steps, eliminating an unused labor software license (about $30,000), reducing professional services and travel, and giving up rented office space shared with Ramsey County. She described one current unfilled TER position and said the department has about 47 FTEs. Newborn also reported unplanned costs this year tied to a cyberattack that disrupted payroll systems and required temporary staff and overtime to ensure employees were paid.

TER’s priorities, Newborn said, are learning and development, process and systems improvement, strengthening recruitment and retention (including Mayor Carter’s priority to recruit residents), and implementing a collective bargaining/negotiation…