2026-2027 Proposed County Budget and Tax Levy Public Hearing - December 11, 2025

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners held a Truth in Taxation public hearing on December 11, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers to receive public testimony on the proposed 2026-2027 biennial budget and property tax levy. County Manager Lane Becker presented an overview highlighting a proposed 2026 budget of $929,256,000 (a 6.5% increase) and a proposed maximum levy increase of 9.75%. The county faces fiscal pressures from federal/state funding changes, employee investments, and growing demand for core services. The final adoption vote is scheduled for December 16, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Miller (North Oaks) expressed strong support for libraries as essential spaces for social cohesion, noting encounters with diverse community members.
• Julie Colmine (St. Paul, library staff) opposed the proposed elimination of five full-time equivalent positions and the entire substitute staffing budget, stating current staffing levels are lower than 25 years ago and below state averages.
• Joe Crow (White Bear Lake) supported the budget despite the levy increase, blaming federal Medicaid and SNAP cuts for the county's constraints.
• Jess Gould (North St. Paul, children's librarian) detailed impacts of substitute budget elimination, including forced schedule changes, staff working sick, and reduced public access.
• Jeff Vance (White Bear Lake) reported a 230% property tax increase since purchasing his home in 2001, with proposed taxes rising to $11,000–$12,000.
• Mary Joe Malica (New Brighton) expressed support for tax-funded services but anger at the federal "one big beautiful bill" that shifted costs to counties.
• Courtney Billing (Falcon Heights, Friends of Ramsey County Library) requested reconsideration of a $590,000 cut (0.06% of county budget), noting library staffing per resident is already below Minnesota's average. The cut would close Shoreview Library on Fridays and reduce programs.
• Andrew Irvin (White Bear Lake) supported the budget's goals but raised concerns about federal threats to Medicaid waiver services for individuals with disabilities.
• Sebastian Stoss (Circle Pines) opposed the levy increase, demanding a comprehensive audit of $38.4 million spent on 213 non-governmental organizations without competitive bidding or independent audits. He cited Anoka County's $592,000 NGO spending for contrast.
• Shauna Peters (Coombe Rapids) represented the detox program losing 43 staff, questioned the addition of director positions while cutting frontline workers, and claimed only half of affected staff received job offers. She stated the detox billed for 96% of contacts.
• Thomas Biggs (St. Paul) expressed concern about unsustainable property tax increases and unresponsive assessors, citing two nearby homes sold below assessed value.
• Pat Heverland (Roseville, Charles Cabinets owner) reported a 46.87% business tax increase over nine years, two-thirds of annual revenue going to property taxes, and opposed $38.4 million in NGO grants without voter approval.
• Beth Artner (White Bear Township town board supervisor) cited a $4,000 tax increase in two years, criticized parks and recreation practices, and suggested cutting bus routes (calling the Rosedale line "millions of dollars") and bike infrastructure.
• Tim David (White Bear Township chair) noted his township reduced its levy from 8.29% to 7% after a resident vote, and asked Ramsey County to evaluate every program for core necessity and performance.
• Karen Zumulin (Maplewood) reported a 65% tax increase since 2019 and called for a zero levy increase, offering to audit the budget for free. She questioned $13 million for housing stability and $135 million for social services.
• Brian Dobel (McAllister Grovin) cited a 28% tax increase in two years (to $12,400), urged focus on essential services like public safety, and warned that high taxes drive out businesses and residents.
• Greg Blease (St. Paul, Insight St. Paul) noted Ramsey County had the highest county tax rate among metro counties despite the smallest levy increase from 2020-2025. He urged using funds from the Port Authority's tax increment district to reduce the levy.
• Ethan Warren (nurse at Ramsey County Detox) criticized County Manager Becker for using an electronic device during testimony and questioned why the county outsourced its displaced workers program while laying off 43 detox employees.
• Athula Abhaivatva (Maplewood, retired) stated his taxes rose from $5,618 (2019) to a proposed $7,988 (2026) — a 5.16% annualized rate exceeding Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (3.73%), inflation (3.78%), and metro wage growth (4.23%).
• Greg Copeland (former Maplewood city manager) criticized commissioners' salary increases (now ~$107,000 plus $7,000 expenses) and called for 3% across-the-board cuts.
• Mike Trenda (Maplewood, retired carpenter) noted his 10.85% tax increase versus a 2.8% Social Security increase, urging the county to limit its budget increase to 2.8%.
• Stephen Shigaman (St. Paul) advocated for a California-style Proposition 13 property tax cap and criticized spending on a bus line to 3M and the Riverview streetcar project.
• Jerome Gettler (St. Paul) argued that property taxes are forcing residents out, saying "we can't take it" and that private property owners are on the hook for failed government policies.
• Aaron Haska (Roseville) reported neighbors on fixed incomes facing 10.5% to 16% valuation increases with no improvements, and accused the county of using Zillow values for assessments.
• Jagdeep Singh (Shoreview) noted a $250 million contingency fund (twice the required amount) and asked why the county couldn't use that to avoid a levy increase. He also alleged his 11.92% increase just missed the threshold for a state refund.
• Brandon Foxworth (Maplewood) stated property tax increases are "untenable" and will price people out of their homes.
• Heather Ritchie (east side St. Paul, nurse) reported a $2,500 increase since 2021, criticized lack of auditing of county spending, and said she cannot afford a tutor for her special-needs daughter because of taxes.
• Judy Alcott (St. Anthony Village, 81 years old) questioned grants to NGOs, specifically citing the St. Paul Yacht Club and the University of St. Thomas (endowment ~$700 million), and demanded public disclosure of all grant recipients and amounts.
• John Johnson (White Bear Lake, retired former county employee) stated his proposed 2026 tax increase is 26.69% (county share up 36.77%), rising from $10,488 (2023) to $21,588 (2026). He said he is being "taxed out of my house."
• Beverly Farriher (White Bear Lake) acknowledged her own 19% county tax increase but urged commissioners to genuinely hear the anger and provide detailed analysis publicly.
• Udoka Afuido (St. Paul) challenged a 40% increase in taxable market value (from $343,000 to $461,000) with no improvements, noting a recent appraisal valued the property at $325,000. He demanded transparency on comparable sales used and accountability for valuation errors.
• Ken Martin (Little Canada) said the tax environment makes it impossible for his children to afford homes and urged the county to provide stable, predictable tax increases tied to the property's purchase price.
• Cassie Heyman (former North St. Paul, library worker) noted the proposed budget eliminates the entire detox unit (43 layoffs) while adding 110 full-time equivalents including a deputy county manager and five admin directors. She stated library assistants earn under $20/hour and shelve 3 million materials annually.
• Colton Green (St. Paul, veteran) reported his taxes rose from $2,800 to $3,000 in one year, worked 60-70 hours/week, and demanded transparency: "You guys are failing at your job."

Discussion Items

• No discussion items; the board listened to public testimony without response, as per the hearing format.

Key Outcomes

• The public hearing was closed after all registered speakers were heard. County staff will review testimony and post answers to general questions on RamseyCountyMN.gov/budget.
• The Ramsey County Board will vote on final adoption of the 2026-2027 budget and property tax levy on December 16, 2025.