City of St. Paul soliciting feedback on proposed budget

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | August 2026

The City of St. Paul is hosting a series of budget engagement events this summer and fall to give residents the chance to share feedback with city councilmembers and city staff about budget priorities for 2027. Unlike traditional public hearings held after a budget proposal is released, these events allow residents to help shape budget priorities before key decisions are made.

“St. Paul is facing real fiscal pressures, from inflation to reduced and shifting state and federal support, and we cannot ignore the impact that has on both residents and City services,” said Council President Rebecca Noecker in a statement. “As we move into our budget process, our focus is on protecting affordability while ensuring we can continue delivering the core services people rely on every day. That means having early, honest conversations about priorities, exploring efficiencies and partnerships where appropriate, and continuing to identify opportunities to strengthen and broaden our local tax base.”

The City Council recently identified several focus areas for next year’s budget, including housing stability, economic development, public safety, climate resilience, parks and libraries, infrastructure maintenance, and improving transparency and accountability in City budgeting. The next budget engagement meeting is 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13 at Battle Creek Recreation Center, 75 Winthrop St. S. Other meetings are September 4, 5:30-7 p.m., at Frogtown Community Center, 230 Como Ave.; September 10, 6-7:30 p.m., at North End Community Center, 145 Lawson Ave. W.; September 14, 6-7:30 p.m., at Hancock Recreation Center, 1610 Hubbard Ave.; and October 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Palace Community Center, 781 Palace Ave. Important dates in the budget process are:

September 23 – City sets Maximum Property Tax Levy
November 30 – Truth-in-Taxation Hearing
December 2 – City votes to certify the final property tax levy and adopt the budget

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