Shaping Saint Paul's Future
Every year, the City of Saint Paul makes decisions about how to invest public dollars in the services, programs, and infrastructure that residents rely on every day. Those decisions affect everything from public safety and road maintenance to economic development and customer service.
Throughout this year, Mayor Kaohly Her invited residents, business owners, community organizations, and stakeholders to help shape those decisions before her proposed budget was developed. Each meeting focused on one of Mayor Her's four budget priorities: enhancing safety and justice in our communities, ensuring a responsive government, making it easier to do business in Saint Paul, fiscal sustainability.
FAQs
Annual City Budgeting Process
It takes teamwork to create our annual City budget. The Mayor, City Council, City staff, and residents work together to craft a budget that reflects our values.
January to March: Base Budget
At the start of the year, the City finalizes revenue and expenses from the previous year. This "base budget" gives us a starting point to plan for the next year.
April to May: Planning Begins
Each spring, the Mayor asks City leaders to plan for the following year. The Mayor's Office discusses the coming year's budget with City commissions, boards, and committees.
Meanwhile, the Mayor asks the directors of City departments to begin planning their operating budgets for the coming year. The Mayor provides guidance on priorities and areas of focus to help shape those plans.
June to July: Attend a Budget Engagement Meeting
The Mayor's Office hosts a series of conversations to educate residents about the city's budget and gather feedback on priorities for the coming year. The Mayor and her administration use community feedback gathered through meetings, surveys, and questionnaires to help shape budget recommendations and investments.
August to December: Proposal, Review, and Adoption
The Mayor formally presents the Proposed Budget, outlining recommended investments, priorities, and strategies for the coming year. Following the proposal, the City Council begins a public review process. Throughout the fall, City departments provide briefings to the Council, explaining how the proposed budget would impact programs, services, staffing, and operations.
Residents have opportunities to learn about the proposal, provide feedback, and participate in public discussions as the City Council evaluates the budget. This stage of the process helps ensure transparency, accountability, and public input before the budget is finalized.
The budget process concludes when the Saint Paul City Council votes to adopt the City's annual budget. Once adopted, the budget becomes the City's financial plan for the coming year.