Citizen's Guide to Changing the Charter

Contact us

Propose an Amendment

Home rule charter amendments may be proposed by a Charter Commission or by a sufficient petition of five percent of the number of voters registered as of the last previous state general election in the county.

The County Manager shall verify the sufficiency of the petition to the Ramsey County Charter Commission which shall declare the sufficiency of the petition.

The county board may, by ordinance, propose charter amendments to the Ramsey County Charter Commission. Within 60 days, the commission shall review the proposed amendment and may extend the time for 90 days by filing with the County Manager the resolution determining that an additional time for review is needed. After reviewing the proposed amendment, the Charter Commission shall approve or reject the proposed amendment or suggest a substitute amendment. The county board shall submit the amendment approved by the charter commission, either as originally proposed or the substituted amendment, to a vote of the electorate.

Adoption of Amendments

A proposed amendment shall be submitted to a vote in the county at the next general election. The amendment shall be adopted if it is passed by the same majority required for adoption of the charter. It will take effect in 30 days after the election has been certified or at such other time as is fixed in the amendment.

Upon recommendation of the Charter Commission, the county board may enact a charter amendment by ordinance by an affirmative vote of all its members after a public hearing upon two weeks published notice containing the text of the proposed amendment. An ordinance amending the charter shall not become effective until 90 days after passage and is subject to referendum.