With a potential 7.9% property tax levy increase on the horizon, the St. Paul City Council is inviting residents to its annual budget listening session on Sept. 24 at El Rio Vista Rec Center.

The listening session aims to explain the budget process, timeline, tax trends and other factors affecting the proposed 2025 budget, which was unveiled by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter in August. Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas and priorities in a public hearing.

At 10 a.m. every Wednesday through early December, the council will convene at City Hall as the budget committee and meet with department directors for public discussion of each department’s proposed spending request. The public can visit in person or tune in remotely at tinyurl.com/Stp2024Meetings, or watch recordings.

On Sept. 25, the council will adopt the levy limit, which is a preliminary levy amount that represents the maximum the city can raise property taxes in the next budget year. The council spends the next six weeks looking for both cost savings and necessary investments. The final levy amount will be adopted alongside the finalized 2025 budget in early December.

A legally required “Truth in Taxation” public hearing will take place Dec. 2, with staff from the city and county on hand to answer property tax questions.

The budget listening session will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the El Rio Vista Rec Center, 179 Robie St. E. You can watch remotely at Youtube.com/@stpaulgov. Learn more at stpaul.gov/council.

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