Ramsey County Board approves $11.9 million in local affordable housing aid for 2025 projects

On July 22, 2025, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the obligation of $11,900,000 in local affordable housing aid for 2025 housing development projects.

The funding, presented to the board by Max Holdes, deputy director of community and economic development, will support preservation, rehabilitation and stabilization of existing affordable housing across Ramsey County and close out several funding streams begun earlier in the month. Holdes told the board the county received more sales-tax revenue than expected and recommended $11.9 million of projects for obligation now, with an earlier July 1 action moving other portions of the sales-tax revenue.

"Local affordable housing aid is a sales tax collected across the 7 county metro specifically for affordable housing and other housing related services," Holdes said. He said the combined impact of the July 1 actions and the board action on July 22 reaches more than 1,400 units preserved or rehabilitated and that "over 200 of those units are gonna be at affordable to those at 30% of the area median income, which are, folks who make less than $26,000 a year."

Why it matters: The money is earmarked for projects that county staff described as preserving naturally occurring affordable housing, rehabbing public housing and stabilizing developments in corridors that historically have lacked investment. The board also previously reserved about $4.0 million of local affordable housing aid for housing stability and emergency rental assistance; the July 22 action completes recommendation of the remaining projects.

Board action and vote: The board moved and approved the administrative items including item 4 (obligation of local affordable housing aid for 2025 housing development projects). On the roll call vote approving the obligation, commissioners Jevan Singh, McGuire, McMurtry, Moran, Zhong and Ortega voted aye; Commissioner Miller was excused. The tally recorded six ayes, zero nays, and one excused.

What the money will target: County staff said the $11.9 million will support a range of projects across Ramsey County, including investments in transit and station-area corridors and preservation of existing units. Staff also described prior allocations earlier in July that set aside $4.0 million for emergency rental assistance intended to prevent evictions and homelessness.

Questions and context from the board: Commissioners emphasized support for directing dollars to deep income targets (30% of area median income) and for funding rental assistance to prevent homelessness. No amendments to the recommendation were offered during the hearing; staff said they were available to answer questions and provided the project list to the board in advance.

Next steps: With the board's vote the county will obligate the recommended $11.9 million to the named 2025 projects and proceed with contract and grant processes described by staff. County staff said the combined July actions will affect the more than 1,400 units described in Holdes's presentation.

Ending: The funding obligation is the latest step in Ramsey County's implementation of local affordable housing aid collected via the metro sales tax. County staff said they will continue to brief commissioners as individual project agreements move into contract and construction phases.