St. Paul presents $887 million 2026 budget proposal as residents warn levy, library cuts and staffing risk services

St. Paul officials on Monday presented a proposed $886,900,000 2026 city budget and told residents the city plans to adopt the maximum levy on Sept. 24 as part of a timeline that includes a Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) hearing Nov. 25 and final budget certification Dec. 3.

Komal Verma, the city’s new chief budget officer, told the crowd the proposal would increase the proposed general fund by 3.9% (about $15.1 million) from 2025 and raise the proposed property tax levy to $232,500,000 — a 5.3% increase she said would add about $9 per month to the average Saint Paul household.

The budget presentation and subsequent small-group reports and public testimony focused heavily on two themes: pressure from rising levy and jurisdictional tax burdens, and cuts to frontline staffing that residents and city employees say are already reducing services.

"The mayor is responsible for developing the budget and recommending it to the legislative branch," Verma said, describing the budget calendar and legal requirements in the city charter. She outlined revenue sources that include user fees (32.6%), taxes (29.1%) and intergovernmental grants (15.7%), and a…