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Saint Paul hearing on proposed 2026 budget draws sustained complaints about tax hikes and calls to protect frontline services
Summary
The council's truth-and-taxation public hearing included a budget overview from the council's chief budget officer and hours of public comment describing steep property tax increases, urging protection of libraries and rec centers, and urging spending shifts away from consultants and toward frontline workers.
The Saint Paul City Council held a special truth-in-taxation public hearing where Verma, the council chief budget officer, reviewed the mayor’s proposed 2026 budget and the city’s proposed property tax levy. Verma said the total proposed operating budget is $886,000,000 and reported a proposed property tax levy of $232,500,000; she described allocations for housing, permitting and cybersecurity and said the council will adopt budgets and set the levy at its Dec. 3 meeting. (Verma identified herself as the city council chief budget officer and invited public review of online budget documents.)
Council President Naker opened the meeting and framed the hearing as statutorily required while noting that the version presented represented the mayor’s proposal and that council amendments were forthcoming. She told attendees the council had heard extensive earlier engagement and would consider resident input as it finalizes amendments.
During more than two hours of public comment, dozens of residents raised two recurring themes: rapidly rising property tax bills and the risk that proposed cuts will shrink core services. Several homeowners and small-business owners said property taxes on their parcels had doubled or increased by large percentages over recent years. “My property taxes have doubled in the last four years. I live on a fixed income,” said Brian Burksen, who identified himself as a disabled Afghanistan veteran. Another resident, Will Thompson, said the city portion of his bill rose about 48% and asked why that differed from the example in the presentation.
Workers and union representatives repeatedly urged the council to prioritize frontline employees and oppose reductions to library and recreation center hours. “We can’t hire people. We can’t keep people at these wages,” said Isaac Milke, an AFSCME member who urged cutting consultant spending and reallocating funds to staff. Multiple library and rec staff described low wages, understaffing and the community services they provide, with Ben Eilenfeldt calling the nearly $1 million Rondo bathroom relocation expense “outrageous” compared with frontline needs.
Speakers also suggested specific budget levers. Carl Michaud of Insight St. Paul urged decertifying eight completed tax-increment finance districts to return about $1,000,000 to the property-tax budget and recommended pausing design spending on new parks to address maintenance backlogs. Others urged expanding the tax base to better distribute burden onto commercial property and to keep businesses in the city.
Council members said they would consider the testimony as they finalize amendments. The council is scheduled to adopt the budget and set the levy at its regular meeting on Dec. 3. In the meantime, staff from the Ramsey County assessor’s office were available in the hallway to answer individual questions about valuations and rebate programs.
The hearing closed after the final speakers urged the council to heed residents’ concerns about affordability and service priorities and to pursue what they described as transformational leadership on the budget.
