City adopts 2025 budget and 5.9% levy after negotiations; council secures targeted investments and reporting commitments

The St. Paul City Council adopted the city's 2025 operating budget and a 2025 property‑tax levy after a multi‑hour debate and two competing council amendment packages. Chief budget officer Jay Wilmes summarized the mayor's original proposal and the council's A1 and A2 amendment options; the council ultimately approved the A2 amendment and then the full budget package.

Wilmes said the mayor's proposed total budget was approximately $854.9 million with a general fund recommendation of about $401.4 million; council amendments adjusted the mix of expenditures and the levy request. "The mayor's proposed budget balanced available financing with planned expenditures," Wilmes told the council, providing line‑item changes, one‑time adjustments and department allocations.

Council leadership emphasized several priorities added, including expanded library investments, three additional firefighters, $250,000 for the reparations commission, a free swim pilot and funding for bike safety. They also negotiated a $250,000 reduction to the police overtime request and committed to improved overtime reporting and vacancy tracking to address repeated overspending concerns.

After discussion the council voted on the A2 amendment (which set a 5.9% levy) and, following roll calls, adopted the budget and levy. The council also passed a companion resolution recording reporting commitments — including regular police overtime updates, vacancy reporting and a pledge to prioritize franchise fee spending for climate work — and asked staff to operationalize the reporting cadence.

Council members stressed the balance of reducing levy pressure on taxpayers while protecting essential services; several members noted the budget remains a compromise and that additional structural reforms and oversight work will continue in 2025.