North St. Paul staff propose 6% levy increase to fund 10-year, $100M CIP

Summary

Finance Director Dan Winnick told the North St. Paul City Council at a July 1 workshop that a 6% baseline levy increase would be needed to fund a 10-year capital improvement plan and rising debt service while holding utility rates steady; the proposal relies on several interfund transfers and carries funding risks for the community center and fiber operations.

North St. Paul City Council convened July 1 for a workshop to begin the 2026 budget process, where Finance Director Dan Winnick presented a comprehensive budget packet and recommended a baseline 6% levy increase to support the city’s capital improvement plan (CIP).

Winnick said the city manager set a goal “to shoot for a 6% levy increase and to hold our utility rates the same,” and that the 10-year CIP—totaling roughly $100 million in staff estimates—was the primary driver behind the proposed levy. He told council the package in the packet covers every fund the council approves, including the general fund, HRA and EDA levies, enterprise funds, internal service funds and special revenue funds.

Why it matters: the levy proposal is intended to preserve funding for streets, parks and city facilities amid rising debt service and personnel costs. Winnick said personnel is the largest expenditure in the general fund (about 69%) and public safety (police, fire and code enforcement) consumes roughly 63% of general-fund spending, constraining other options.

How staff propose to reach a 6% baseline - Maintain a $131,000 transfer of penalty revenues from the electric fund into the general fund (included in the packet but subject to council approval); - Reinstatement of some previous transfers from the water, wastewater and surface water funds that had been reduced;…

North St. Paul staff propose 6% levy increase to fund 10-year, $100M CIP

Summary

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