Capital Improvement Budget Process

2026 - 2027 Department Process

2025 Department Process Public Hearing Community Proposal Public Hearing June 9

The City of Saint Paul’s Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 9, 2025, 5 – 7 pm (or until last speaker) in the Multipurpose Room at Rondo Community Library, located at 461 Dale St N, St Paul, MN 55103, to hear public testimony regarding its preliminary recommendations for the expenditure of 2026 and 2027 capital improvement funds. This includes $4,000,000 per year in Community Development Block Grant financing for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027, and $14,916,000 in total over 2026 and 2027 in St. Paul Capital Improvement Bonds. For more information contact Nichelle Bottko Woods, City of Saint Paul, Office of Financial Services, nichelle.bottko.woods@ci.stpaul.mn.us, 651-266-8878, or visit www.stpaul.gov/cib.

Capital Improvement Budget Process

The Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) is how we fund the construction and maintenance of City infrastructure. This includes improvements in streets, bridges, libraries, parks, recreation centers, and other public facilities and infrastructure. The budget is composed of a variety of state, federal, and local funding sources. The CIB Committee is an advisory body of 18 Saint Paul residents that recommends projects and funding levels to the Mayor every year by June 30. The Capital Improvement Budget is approved by the Mayor and City Council annually.

The Saint Paul Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process is designed to engage residents in evaluating capital needs in the City. In 2019, we launched a new CIB process to replace the over three decades old existing process and focus more strongly on:

Equity and inclusion: Budgeting decisions reflect our commitment to equity. The CIB Committee supports identifying ways to invite more voices to the table and ensure investments are distributed equitably throughout the City.
Strategic investments: Capital investments all feed into a larger, more comprehensive strategic framework that takes advantage of data and ensures maximum return on investment.
Fiscal responsibility: Existing infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sidewalks – as well as existing parks and libraries facilities – are well-tended. Maintenance is prioritized.

One of the most significant changes to the process is the creation of a two-year cycle with the first year dedicated to City department-submitted projects and the second for community-submitted projects, eliminating the competition for funding between City and community projects that existed in the previous process.

Odd-Numbered Years: City Department Projects

In the spring of the odd-numbered years, a working group composed of representatives from City departments and the CIB Committee begin to review project proposals and 5-year plans submitted by City departments. As part their review, the working group shares the list of potential projects with the community for input. When project review is completed, the working group forwards their project and plan recommendations to the CIB Committee. The Committee reviews, discusses, and holds a public meeting on the recommended plans.

Capital Improvement Plan Year 1: City Department Projects

Even-Numbered Years: Community-created Projects

The process begins with the Mayor announcing City priorities for the coming budget year. The City and CIB Committee begin recruiting applications from the community. In the spring of the even-numbered year, the working group screens submitted applications for eligibility. All eligible proposals present to the CIB Committee. Online polling provides additional data that the CIB Committee may use while considering which projects to recommend.

In both years, the CIB Committee forwards recommended capital improvement budgets for the following two fiscal years to the Mayor by late June. The Mayor proposes capital (and operating) budgets to the City Council and residents in mid-August. During the fall, the City Council reviews the Mayor's proposed budgets and holds public hearings. In mid-December, the Council adopts a final capital improvement budget for the next fiscal year and approves a tentative budget for the year after.