Public hearing opens on Ramsey County commissioners' salary ordinance; resident urges rejection of proposed increases

Ramsey County held a public hearing June 24 on a proposed ordinance to set the pay for county commissioners for 2026. Chair Ortega opened the hearing and explained the rules for public testimony.

The hearing drew one in-person speaker, Greg Copeland of Saint Paul, who said he opposed the proposed increase and an associated $7,200 per-commissioner allowance. “You already have a great job here. You get to set your own pay,” Copeland said. He argued the increase would outpace benefits received by county residents who rely on Social Security and county assistance programs.

Copeland told commissioners the current commissioner salary is, as he understands it, “about $23,000 more than the median household income in Ramsey County,” and contrasted the proposed 3% pay adjustment for commissioners with smaller cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients. He also said about “16 and a half percent” of county residents are seniors and urged the board to consider redirecting the proposed funds to county assistance programs such as Ramsey/Washington Community Action.

The hearing record will remain open as the public record for the proposed Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary Ordinance. Chair Ortega closed the public hearing after no additional speakers came forward. The board did not vote on the ordinance at the hearing.

The hearing packet and ordinance text were referenced by staff during the opening remarks but the ordinance citation was not specified in the public record at the hearing.

Looking ahead, the board will consider next steps on the ordinance at a later meeting or through the formal ordinance adoption process outlined in county rules.