2018 - 2019 Proposed Budget Submitted to County Board

2018 - 2019 Proposed Budget submitted to County Board

Ramsey County Manager Julie Kleinschmidt today proposed to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners a biennial budget of $704 million for 2018 and $723 million for 2019. This represents a 1.9 percent increase of $12.8 million in 2018 and a 2.8 percent increase of $19.5 million in 2019.

“This proposed budget moves Ramsey County forward by targeting investments that will modernize how we do business and improve our service delivery,” said Kleinschmidt. “That starts with continuing our development and retention of a skilled, adaptive and resilient workforce to meet the changing needs of our communities.”

Revenues

About $287 million (42 percent) of the county’s budget is funded through property taxes. The 2018 - 2019 budget proposal calls for an increase in Ramsey County’s property tax levy of 4.3 percent in each year, totaling $12.7 million in 2018 and $13.3 million in 2019.

Property taxes are calculated and levied based on properties’ market values. In the proposed 2018 budget, the owner of a median-valued single family home in Saint Paul ($161,400) would pay an additional $42 per year in county taxes on a projected property value increase of $12,500. In Ramsey County’s suburbs, the owner of a median-valued single family home ($221,900) would pay an additional $33 per year on an estimated property value increase of $13,000.

Currently, nearly $194 million (28 percent) of Ramsey County’s total revenues come from federal and state grants and transfers. These revenues are forecast to increase to $195 million in 2018 and to $199 million in 2019.

About $153 million (22 percent) of total revenues are from charges for services. This amount is projected to increase by $5.3 million in the 2018-2019 biennium.

The remaining $57 million (8 percent) of revenues are from other sources (Use of Money, Property and Sales; Other Revenue and Taxes; and Fund Balance). This total amount is projected to decrease $3.9 million in the biennium.

Expenditures

Funding for a number of new and expanded initiatives are proposed in 2018 and 2019:

Community Services

  • Redirect individuals with mental health conditions from the criminal justice system with aligned services that improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs.
  • Reduce homelessness through funding for a cross-sector effort to transition long-term shelter users to permanent housing.
  • Meet demand for increasing foster care placement costs.

Public Safety

  • Increase security for inmates, personnel and visitors at Adult Detention Center (jail) through staffing and upgrading the security access system.
  • Expand funding for sexual assault prevention.
  • Replace radio system in Sheriff’s department.

County Workforce and Business Modernization

  • Expand community engagement and racial equity through staff support and training resources.
  • Update critical county technology systems for procurement, property valuation and records and supporting staff structures.
  • Expand early and absentee voting sites and technology. 

Capital Improvements and Economic Development

  • Advance transit corridor planning (Gold Line, Rush Line, Riverview).
  • Expand county road and bridge construction and maintenance projects.
  • Undertake repairs and improvements at Aldrich, Shoreview and White Bear Lake ice arenas.

Detailed budget documents are available at ramseycounty.us/budget.

Next Steps

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners will adopt a maximum tax levy on September 26 and is scheduled to vote on a final budget December 12, 2017.

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback at two public hearings:

Contact: John Siqveland, Public Communications Director, 651-746-9250.

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