| Greetings District 1,
The Ramsey County Board is currently in the midst of budget season, one of the most important times of the year for shaping how our county delivers services and invests in the future.
This newsletter will give you an overview of the 2026–2027 budget, highlighting some of the major changes within each service team and departmental budget. Our goal is to keep you informed about where resources are being directed, why those decisions matter, and how they will affect the programs and services you rely on every day. I know these choices impact residents and communities directly, and we want to ensure you feel connected to the process as it unfolds.
Sincerely,
 Tara Jebens-Singh
Commissioner, Ramsey County District 1
Meetings of the Ramsey County Board, Regional Railroad Authority, Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Committees are held on Tuesdays in the Chambers of Saint Paul City Hall - Ramsey County Courthouse. Meeting proceedings are video recorded and archived. Minutes, agendas and related documents are available online.
Ramsey County 2026-2027 Budget
On September 2nd, Ramsey County Manager Ling Becker presented the county’s proposed 2026-2027 Ramsey County Budget.
The proposed budget prepares Ramsey County for federal funding reductions and state-mandated costs by protecting the county's ability to provide essential services and supports to residents, businesses, and partner organizations.
Counties are mandated by both the State of Minnesota and the federal government to provide a wide range of services—from public safety, courts, and elections to health, housing, and human services. The proposed budget works to balance this need to fund critical services while trying to responsibly protect taxpayers from increased tax burdens.
The proposal pairs strategic investments with targeted reductions and organizes the work of the county around five strategic priorities:
- County-responsible services
- Operating as One Ramsey County
- Investing in organizational excellence
- Advancing partnerships
- Supporting long-term fiscal health
Ramsey County strongly encourages public input throughout the 2026-2027 budget process. Here are ways to participate:
- Attend a public hearing:
- September 22, 2025 – Preliminary budget hearing
- December 11, 2025 – Final budget and levy hearing
- Share your feedback: Send input to the Chief Clerk by email at chiefclerk@ramseycounty.us
BUDGET PRESENTATIONS:
STILL TO COME:
Additional Resources
- Ramsey County 26-27 Biennial Budget
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Ramsey County Open Data Portal:
- The Open Data Portal, Open Ramsey County, makes data generated by the county openly available to the public to increase transparency, accountability and comparability, promote economic development and research, and improve performance management. Open Ramsey County provides a wide variety of data, charts, stories, maps and performance measures.
Departmental Budget Presentations
This week and early next week, the Board of Commissioners will review departmental budget presentations for the 2026–2027 biennial budget through each county service team.
Through these presentations, the Board of Commissioners and community members gain a clearer picture of the resources being requested, the priorities being set, and the impact on residents’ daily lives. This stage of the process is not only about reviewing numbers on a page, but also about asking meaningful questions, weighing trade-offs, and ensuring that county services take into account the needs of residents and remain responsive, equitable, and sustainable for the future.
Major changes affecting the organization include:
- County Service Team and Departmental Realignments to protect staff from layoffs, maximize funding sources, and foster operational excellence
- Increased costs from updated contracts, wage adjustments, higher healthcare expenses, and increased service charges.
- Decreases in revenue from intergovernmental grants and previous intergovernmental funding streams that support state and federally mandated programs, such as SNAP.
- Decreases in revenue from intergovernmental grants and previous intergovernmental funding streams that support departments such as Community Economic Development and Workforce Solutions.
- Significant investments in technology modernization to better serve our contracted partners and vendors, and ensure that services are being delivered to residents most effectively and efficiently.
- Significant investments in staff and training that ensure we can sustain current levels of service delivery and maximize potential funding streams that require technical understanding
- Elimination of certain county programs and facilities to focus on providing county-responsible services. These are services the county is required to provide by law.
- Small shifts in how the county provides services to the community by focusing on communities where our most vulnerable residents reside, such as seniors, families with low incomes, and individuals with disabilities.
 Budget season is in full swing, and your voice is a key part of the process. The programs and services residents use, such as medical assistance, transportation, public safety, health care, libraries, and even waste management, are shaped by the choices we make in our budget.
Commissioner Jebens-Singh would like to hear your input on the budget process and priorities; we invite you to complete this anonymous survey!
 Commissioner Jebens-Singh would like to hear from you during her District One office hours! Whether you have a specific topic you wish to address, you want to learn more about ongoing initiatives, or you are just eager to connect, the Commissioner and her staff are eager to engage with you.
Once you sign up via Calendly, office staff will follow up with you to confirm the meeting time, meeting location, and gather any additional details necessary for the discussion.
The Offices of Commissioner Jebens-Singh (District 1) and Commissioner Garrison McMurtrey (District 3) are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Administrative Assistant to provide professional, responsive, and reliable administrative support.
This position plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of both offices and requires excellent organizational skills, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to balance multiple priorities and work in a public-facing environment. The position will serve both District 1 and District 3 offices.
A successful candidate must be adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable supporting two Commissioner offices with overlapping priorities. This is a full-time position with Ramsey County and includes a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional development.
Learn More & Apply
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