The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to set next year’s tax levy increase at 9.75% — or $434.56 million.
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State law requires the county to certify the proposed tax levy by Sept. 30. Commissioners will approve the final 2026 tax levy in December. The final levy increase can be less than $434.56 million but it can’t be more, now that the maximum levy has been set.
The county’s proposed budget totals $929.3 million in 2026 – a 6.57% increase from the 2025 supplemental budget of $848.5 million. The 2027 proposed budget of $968.5 million is a 4.22% increase from 2026.
What the average homeowner can expect
The average tax increase on a residential median-value home is estimated at a 4.4% increase, or $22 per month according to county officials, because of overall growth in property values and the amount of tax revenue coming from properties other than residences.
The estimated median home value in St. Paul for 2026 is $289,200.
About 46% of the county’s proposed budget is funded through property taxes. The rest comes from intergovernmental revenues, charges for services and other sources. The county raised the tax levy 4.75% in 2025, 6.8% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2023.
Why is it going up?
The proposed levy comes at a time when state and federal decisions are shifting responsibilities to the county without providing the needed resources for them, according to county officials.
County service teams have been holding budget presentations throughout this month. None of those departments presented “wish” budgets but rather presented what they need in order for the county to provide the services that it is required to, said Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire.
“I’m going to support this budget item today knowing that we’re going to continue to work on what we can do to not have this burden on our property taxpayers,” McGuire said at Tuesday’s meeting. “And it’s not any of our choice (but) that’s one of the very few ways that we can raise revenue is through the property tax.”
Board commissioners said they plan to work with county teams and others ahead of December to decrease the proposed levy hike.
“This is a very hard budget. There are very real consequences,” said Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong, during Tuesday’s meeting, at times becoming visibly emotional. “So I just want to be clear that today’s vote is just setting the max levy and that my commitment still remains — working through this budget with our staff and with our residents to ensure … Ramsey County is prepared to pay for the big shift that’s coming from the federal and from the state … No matter what type of cuts we make here, it will be painful, and I just want to reassure our residents that we take this role very seriously.”
Public hearing
Meanwhile, the board of commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed budget Monday.
Residents spoke about increases in property taxes and the county’s plans to close its Detox and Withdrawal Management Program on Dec. 31 as part of the proposed budget.
One Maplewood resident said levy increases have been “unsustainable” and his property taxes will go up to $12,000.
St. Paul resident Brandon Huggins said that around six years ago, he was homeless, but has now become a homeowner and is struggling with increasing taxes.
“Because of services like Ramsey County Detox, I was able to get sober, to become a taxpayer and I’m now a homeowner,” Huggins said. “And you’re increasing my taxes to a point where I’m struggling to provide for my family. You’re asking more and more from the residents of this city and this county. And you’re cutting services for us, public services, community services.”
County officials have cited financial underperformance as part of its decision to close its detox and withdrawal program and anticipates moving to community-based services will reduce county costs by at least $2 million annually. The county’s proposed budget includes the reduction of 43 staff positions, most of whom work for the program.
AFSCME union members representing Ramsey County workers oppose closing the program, citing concerns with the privatizing services and “questionable ethical ties to county leadership staff and hired analysts who were contracted to study the public program’s effectiveness,” union officials said last week.
When are the next hearings?
Community members will be able to provide feedback on the proposed budget during the next public hearing on Dec. 11, before its expected approval on Dec. 16.
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