Back to List

2018-19 proposed budget submitted to county board

On Aug. 8, Ramsey County Manager Julie Kleinschmidt proposed to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners a biennial budget of $704 million for 2018 and $723 million for 2019. This represents a 1.9 percent increase of $12.8 million in 2018 and a 2.8 percent increase of $19.5 million in 2019.

Revenues

About $287 million (42 percent) of the county’s budget is funded through property taxes. The 2018 - 2019 budget proposal calls for an increase in Ramsey County’s property tax levy of 4.3 percent in each year, totaling $12.7 million in 2018 and $13.3 million in 2019.

Property taxes are calculated and levied based on properties’ market values. In the proposed 2018 budget, the owner of a median-valued single family home in Saint Paul ($161,400) would pay an additional $42 per year in county taxes on a projected property value increase of $12,500. In Ramsey County’s suburbs, the owner of a median-valued single family home ($221,900) would pay an additional $33 per year on an estimated property value increase of $13,000.

Learn more about the property tax system in this short video from the League of Minnesota Cities.

Expenditures

Funding for a number of new and expanded initiatives are proposed in 2018 and 2019:

  • Redirect individuals with mental health conditions from the criminal justice system with aligned services that improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs.
  • Reduce homelessness through funding for a cross-sector effort to transition long-term shelter users to permanent housing.
  • Expand funding for sexual assault prevention.
  • Expand community engagement and racial equity through staff support and training resources.
  • Expand early and absentee voting sites and technology. 
  • Expand county road and bridge construction and maintenance projects.

Detailed budget documents are available at ramseycounty.us/budget.

Next steps and public hearings

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners will adopt a maximum tax levy on September 26 and is scheduled to vote on a final budget December 12, 2017.

Each of the county's service teams will present their proposed budget to the board throughout August and September. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback at two public hearings:

Read the complete press release: 2018 - 2019 Proposed Budget Submitted to County Board

Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - 10:11 a.m.