Ramsey County Board Approves 8.25% Tax Levy Increase for 2026

The Ramsey County Board unanimously approved an 8.25% tax levy increase for 2026 and set the operating budgets for 2026 and 2027 during a meeting on December 11, 2023. The tax levy has been reduced from the initially proposed maximum of 9.75%, reflecting a commitment to responsible fiscal management amid challenging economic conditions.

The approved budget for 2026 is $924,063,479, while the budget for 2027 is set at $962,473,868. This represents a decrease from earlier proposals, which included a 2026 budget of $929.25 million and a 2027 budget of $968.45 million. Board members noted that these reductions were influenced by shifts in budget priorities and a reevaluation of levy-supported expenditures.

Community Input and Budget Trade-offs

County officials emphasized the importance of community feedback in shaping the new budget. They acknowledged that residents expressed concerns regarding the impact of budget cuts, which contributed to the final decisions. County Manager Ling Becker explained that the adjustments were necessary to provide the county with flexibility in its operations.

Despite these reductions, officials recognized that difficult trade-offs were made. District 6 Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong highlighted the negative effects of cost shifts from the federal level on the county’s safety net. “This budget reflects the reality, and that the board has made intentional choices to reduce that impact as much as possible,” she stated.

Approximately 46% of the county’s budget is financed through property taxes. Officials attributed rising costs, limited revenue growth, increasing service demands, and uncertainties at both federal and state levels as key pressures on the budget. Furthermore, the board cited increasing state and federal mandates that counties must adhere to as additional challenges.

Details on Budget Cuts

Significant budget cuts include reductions in state-mandated burial assistance for low-income residents, proposed funding for community engagement initiatives by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and contributions to the Ramsey County Historical Society.

“This is just spread across the enterprise, it’s things like cuts in IT, cuts in our CEO Next cohort that is going to be delayed, it’s cuts in some of the different staffing and programs and services,” said District 1 Commissioner Tara Jebens-Singh. She noted that the board had received feedback from residents who felt the impact of these service shifts.

Officials also addressed concerns raised during the county’s truth in taxation hearing regarding spending with non-profit partners. This spending accounted for around 4% of the county budget in 2024 and is not the primary driver of cost increases, which are largely associated with cost shifts, personnel expenses, and rising service demands.

“Ramsey County does not provide unrestricted donations. It funds nonprofits through contracts to deliver specific, often state-mandated, services,” Becker clarified. She added that ongoing performance monitoring ensures services are delivered as intended and that funds are used appropriately.

For additional details on the budget changes approved by the Ramsey County Board, interested individuals can visit the official county website.