St. Paul proposes $887 million 2026 operating budget with 5.3% levy increase

Madeline Mitchell, the city’s budget manager, presented the mayor’s proposed 2026 operating budget to the St. Paul City Council Finance and Budget Committee, saying the package totals “about 887,000,000” and includes a 5.3% property tax levy increase.

Mitchell told the committee the budget begins with “a starting budget gap [in the general fund] of 23,000,000,” driven largely by salary and benefit inflation and other fixed costs. She said the gap was closed using three primary levers: the levy increase, reductions to departmental spending and vacancy…