Ramsey County, MN Board Meeting

???

Good evening, everyone. Today is September 10th 2026. This is the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners proposed 2027 Supplemental County Budget and Tax Levy. A public hearing. So to give some idea of what today looked like, there is no votes taken for the public hearing today. The public hearing on the proposed 2027 Supplemental County Budget. And Tax Levy is now open. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed 2027 Supplemental County Budget and Tax Levy.

For those who are here to speak at the public hearing. When you are called to speak, please state your name in the city of residence before making your comment. You have a limit of 3 minutes to give your testimony. Okay. I have a list of those have signed up to speak. would take speakers in the order that they appear on the list. How have you come up to the podium and stand in front of the microphone? We will repeat this process for every speaker have signed up or show up to speak today. At 05:00PM. So I've for speaker would Julie. Coleman, Coleman. Julie. This to me. Okay. dude not here. Okay. and I'm sorry if I mispronounced your name, going to do my best. I I and II. I ad II. Miss this homeless. INE. going to move to grave Copeland. In afternoon. Folks.

Craig Copeland, a live in Saint Paul. the lucky guy and the only person running for this board that is running against incumbent this year. And of course, we are enjoying that. And I've been following your your hearing. So I'm just going to go through a kind of a list of some changes. I'd like to see the board make to reduce the tax levy. It's to come. And we had a company had a billion dollars using the Did you give us your city of residence? Paul, victory. beautiful prish. You can back it up. Over on the side. Okay. Got me off my trey here.

All right. Just going give you a few ideas. Do you got another minute since we had a little? Action. interaction with the 4 that we do years Leanna. Thank Blessing. Okay. You know, I know you got a big job ahead of as a former city manager had this task of balancing a budget. I always like to cut taxes. And the first year I was over there Maplewood, we the second budget. We cut them and we caps and we had and for the community tat they never had 50 years. I was there when their their 50th anniversary. And we gave a lot of promotions. And how do we do that? Well, we had a lot of changes in the administrative structure. We got rid of the second. Well assistance. Typically, although in some cases we had people who decided that they would rather work Oakdale retire or whatever. So those things happen. We don't have to have a big tax increase.

We should freeze hiring right now at all vacant positions we should look for across the board savings among the non personnel items in each department. You should repeal your salary ordinance that you passed in June I think I was one of 2 people that showed up to speak against that. And follow the example. Now the mayor her and cut your salaries. Frankly, I and suggesting you go back to a 2024 salary of 100 and one $1000 that would save U. S.. 67,600 and 97 bucks right there. And then you can eliminate that $7200. Expense account that you have. That would save another 50,000 bucks. Plus. The building together. Think frankly, you know, we just had a guy who bought his 3rd block in Saint Paul today. least that released today. We don't need to spend all this money from the county to save downtown Saint Paul. We're already giving them a tax break this year.

It's 7.9%. was 6.7% last year. people are living You know, they're coming to town and by it's great private money. We don't need a bonded that program. For a downtown park. 10 perks, at least in downtown Saint Paul. And we've got a beautiful area Island Park. We don't need that. He'll save your street 320 million dollars. It other thing we should do is phase out. Real authority. If you guys put that's almost as much money is year. Budget needs a new dollars. According to your 8.0, 2, 5%, increase. And I'm not suggesting that you can cut all that out of one year, but you should phase it out. The Met Council should take responsibility for the state. Come We all know about the trolley. We all know about the Russian line. We all know about all the issues. The white Bear lake. This stuff didn't work well with you guys that 22 grand that you put out there.

22 million the other day. should product back. I mean, cut that that that contract. Thank you. Thank you. So Thank you, Matt. mean, I'd be happy to share more with it. But the I guess we got a big crash here that's going to testify. Thank you showing up today. Thank you she ate it. The next person on the list is Casey. Hi, Casey. Could please state your name and your city of residence? It's apparent packs ago by Casey. I live in say forward one. I just want to say having the meeting in this building is difficult and this is supposed to be a public hearing and it's difficult to get here not to mention expensive to get here and park your car. So maybe think about better place that has it easier to people can come to and speak. My big issue and 2 years ago when I came to this. 40, some of their head, a pie chart and 47% of that pie chart spent nonprofit.

That's got stop. If you're going raise my taxes to give my money to nonprofit. That's wrong. You need to cut their budget. Cut their 47% bring it down to 40, 30. And been in 20 because it's not the government's responsibility to give the services to these organizations. And I say nonprofit and to your start asking questions about these, have the top 10 right here from that same reference. don't even know if these nonprofits do you go to their website. You can even figure it out. But they're getting 3 million dollars of my tax dollars to spend and something. And then you ask them what percent of your budget is administrative cost. 37% seriously. This is a non profit. They're making more money than I did when I worked. This you need to do some investigating and where your money goes. But the biggest issue is these nonprofits have to go. You you can't be supporting them anymore.

You have to support us and the services we need as constituents in your county. This money is going to people that shouldn't get it. And that has to start just has to stop. And I agree with Greg on this stuff as far as cutting things that that you just you just need to cut that I have to cut my budget not to support the stuff that you want, that I don't want and you need to think about that. Thank you. Casey, Musk ox. I dismiss I Julie Common year. How about I and homeless. the homies. All right. is there anyone here to

Speak regarding the proposed 2027 Seminole County Budget and Tax Levy? Is there anyone here to speak regarding proposed 2027 supplement County budget and tax Levy? Is anyone here to speak regarding proposed 2027 supplemental counting budget and tax Levy? Since there is no one else here to speak in regards to proposed 2027 Supplemental County Budget and Tax Levy. I am. Declaring the public hearing is nw Thank you.

For being here.