Commissioners debate 2027 budget, step increases and 3% cap impact

The Ramsey County commission held an extended discussion about the 2027 budget, focusing on salary step increases, a proposed 3% cap on cost-of-living adjustments and staffing pressures in several departments.

Daniel (speaker 9), the county’s state's attorney in the meeting, said his office is down one assistant state's attorney and one paralegal and requested step increases and cost-of-living adjustments to keep workload covered. He noted the State's Attorneys Association increased dues and that some advocacy services previously provided at discounted rates are no longer available.

Commissioners debated how to account for step scales and a separate 3% cap. Several members emphasized the need to know baseline operating costs before setting percent increases and discussed whether unused cap amounts can be carried forward. Daniel recommended presenting preliminary budgets with and without step/cost-of-living increases so the commission can compare scenarios.

Commissioners also discussed operational changes that could reduce expenses, such as extending warranties on heavy equipment, rotating grader purchases to spread costs and consolidating positions where feasible. The commission directed department heads to prepare budget worksheets showing base operating costs and projected costs for a range of raises (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%) to inform decisions.

Chair and other commissioners stressed they will prioritize maintaining essential services and employee retention over outside grants or donations when budget pressure requires trade-offs. The commission did not adopt final budget numbers but set follow-up steps for staff to return with standardized pay tables and step-scale data.