Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting – December 16, 2025

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met on December 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, Courthouse Room 300, Saint Paul, MN. All seven commissioners were present: Jebens-Singh, McGuire, McMurtrey, Miller, Moran, Xiong, and Chair Ortega. The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m. and adjourned at 11:01 a.m. Key actions included approval of the 2026 tax levy of $428,627,201 (an 8.25% increase over 2025), adoption of the 2026-2027 operating budget ($924,063,479 for 2026 and $962,473,868 for 2027), and approval of the 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program. Numerous administrative items were approved, including a lease for a new Public Health Clinic in Maplewood.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda of December 16, 2025 and minutes of December 2, 2025 (both unanimous).
• Agreement with the City of Saint Paul for Recording, Cablecasting and Webstreaming Services: Approved for January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, with an option to renew for one additional two-year period.
• Cancellation of the December 23, 2025 Board Meeting: Approved.
• Benefits Policies Update: Approved comprehensive updates to Employee Benefits Policies to comply with legislative changes and clarify existing practices, including revisions to holiday, floating holiday, vacation, sick leave, leave of absence, and separation pay sections.
• Settlement Agreement in Ellen Kirchman v. Ramsey County: Approved a $95,000 settlement (Court File No. 62-CV-25-1495).
• Gift from Ramsey County Library Friends: Accepted a $20,000 gift to the Ramsey County Library.
• Gift from Ramsey County Library Friends: Accepted a $250,000 gift for the Project Design and Ideation of the Mounds View Library; authorized establishment of a project budget.
• Grant Agreement with the City of Saint Paul for Familiar Families Pilot Program: Accepted a $500,000 grant for the period December 20, 2025 through December 19, 2026, to support up to five families experiencing chronic homelessness (expected to serve at least 60 individuals annually).
• Lease Agreement with Northern States Power Company: Approved a lease for 236.5 square feet at 360 Wabasha Street North, Saint Paul, from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030, total amount $18,024.
• Lease Agreement with Minnesota Board of Public Defense: Approved office space leases at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center, Law Enforcement Center, and Suburban Courts facility for January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, at the county's blended rate.
• Lease Agreement with MSP/Beam, LLC: Approved a 180-month lease for 20,900 square feet at 1850 Beam Avenue, Maplewood, with a ten-year renewal option. Approved the 2025 Public Health Clinic project budget of $1,500,000 and authorized fund transfers (up to $340,000 from the 2015 Public Health Clinical Facility project and up to $1,160,000 from county capital fund balances).
• Annual Authority for Procurement Requests: Approved for Financial Assistance Services, Community Corrections, and Social Services departments to enter into certain expenditure agreements without solicitation through December 31, 2026. County Manager Becker reported that in 2024, Financial Assistance Services did not use this authority, Community Corrections had four contracts ($10,000 expenses), and Social Services had 36 contracts ($3.5 million), representing 1% of total procurement spending.
• 2026 Salary Rate for the Ramsey County Attorney: Set at $231,768 effective the first full pay period after January 1, 2026, with continuation of deferred compensation, administrative allowance ($110/month), transportation allowance ($150/month), and cell phone allowance ($55/month).

Discussion Items

• Item 7 – Gift from Library Friends ($250,000): Commissioner Miller pulled the item to acknowledge the Friends' ongoing support and a bequest for Mounds View Library improvements. Approved unanimously.
• Item 12 – Lease with MSP/Beam, LLC (Public Health Clinic Relocation): Commissioner Xiong pulled the item for discussion. County Manager Becker, Property Management Director Jean Krueger, and Public Health Director Amy Caron presented. The current clinic at 555 Cedar Street has long-standing structural, mechanical, and electrical issues and is not conducive to clinical services. After years of searching for suitable space, the former Alina Clinic in Maplewood became available. The 20,900-square-foot space is smaller but efficiently laid out, located across from the Maplewood Mall, county service center, and transit hub. The county will develop a transition plan, including community notification and staff listening sessions. Some services (syringe exchange, outreach) will remain in downtown St. Paul; the mobile unit will continue to be used. The 555 Cedar property will be evaluated for higher and better use. The lease is for 15 years with early termination options; no purchase option was included to avoid adding property to the tax rolls. Commissioners expressed support, emphasizing the need for communication and a smooth transition.
• Item 13 – Financial Assistance Services Annual Authority for Procurement: Commissioner Xiong requested data on usage. County Manager Becker provided the statistics. Future annual authority requests will include year-over-year data. Approved.
• Item 17 – Approval of the 2026 Tax Levy: Considerable discussion. Commissioners acknowledged the impact on taxpayers and the need to balance services with affordability. The levy was reduced from the maximum of 9.75% to 8.25% after public input and internal adjustments. County Manager Becker clarified that nonprofit funding is through contracts for specific services, not unrestricted donations; only 4% of the budget goes to nonprofits, and many are state/federally funded. The levy includes a countywide levy of $411,139,562 and a suburban-only library levy of $17,487,639. Approved unanimously.
• Item 18 – Approval of the 2026-2027 Operating Budget: Approved.
• Item 19 – Approval of the 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program and the 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program Plan: Approved.

County Connections & Reports

• County Manager Becker reported on the AMC conference, including a session on the African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, and noted the county opened the Law Enforcement Center for overnight shelter during cold weather. Highlighted record attendance at Union Depot's European Christmas market (over 25,000 visitors on Saturday) and other holiday events.
• Commissioner Zhang reported on AMC amendments for using local/state affordable housing dollars for administrative costs (passed) and making homeless funding permanent. Expressed concerns about data center policy and SNAP cost shifts; submitted a minority report on data centers. Joined the SNAP subcommittee and discussed potential cost shifts to counties.
• Commissioner McGuire reported on attending the AMC conference, Extension committee racial equity training, and holiday events. Noted that reduction of chloride (road salt) is a focus of the Ramsey County League of Local Governments.
• Commissioner Miller reported on becoming chair of the AMC Tribal Relations Committee, touring the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, and upcoming in-district hours.
• Commissioner Moran reported on presenting the name change of the Master Gardener program (now University of Minnesota Extension Garden Education Volunteer Program) at the Extension board meeting. Toured the downtown St. Paul Service Center, praising improvements. Participated in an Ecolab homelessness roundtable where Ecolab committed $20 million (plus an additional $3 million) toward a five-year plan aiming to raise over $100 million.
• Commissioner McMurtrey reported on an AMC property tax refund amendment (to make refund automatic or improve outreach), Medicaid subcommittee meetings, and meeting with the Como/Front Dale Business Collaborative.
• Commissioner Ortega reported on the AMC conference, audit committee work, meeting with the Saint Paul mayor-elect, and community events including the union depot tree lighting and Polar Express train.
• Chair Ortega thanked all, noted the importance of the automatic property tax refund, and adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• All administrative items were approved unanimously via roll-call votes.
• 2026 Tax Levy Approved: $428,627,201 (8.25% increase over 2025).
• 2026-2027 Operating Budget Approved: $924,063,479 for 2026; $962,473,868 for 2027.
• 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program and 2026-2031 Plan Approved.
• Lease for new Public Health Clinic at 1850 Beam Avenue, Maplewood, approved; project budget of $1,500,000 established.
• Benefits Policies updated to comply with Minnesota law.
• Settlement of $95,000 approved.
• Gifts of $20,000 and $250,000 accepted.
• Grant agreement with City of Saint Paul for Familiar Families Pilot Program approved.
• Annual procurement authorities renewed for three departments.
• County Attorney salary set at $231,768 for 2026.
• December 23, 2025 board meeting cancelled.