St. Paul's Mayor Melvin Carter has laid out an ambitious plan for the city's 2026 budget, zeroing in on issues like housing affordability, economic development, and the opioid crisis. In his recent budget address at Allianz Field, Carter announced a multifaceted approach, which includes a significant $10 million investment aimed at boosting housing and revitalizing downtown, according to the City of St. Paul's official news release.
The mayor's proposal allocates funds across various programs: $5 million for office-to-housing conversions, $2 million for an expanded Down Payment Assistance Fund, and $1 million each to support the Inheritance Fund, Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and the Commercial Corridors Fund, the release details. Other investments include $1 million to battle the fentanyl and opioid epidemic, $1 million for cybersecurity enhancements, and $600,000 to back PAULIE, the city's latest permitting and licensing system.
Additional funds, totaling $200,000, are slated to empower district councils and aid in local governance. In a separate budget speech at Hayden Heights, Carter revealed that the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center would uphold library services for the neighborhood during the Rondo Community Library's upcoming renovations, expected to kick off before year's end.
Mayor Carter is also pushing for local legislation focused on gun control, where he intends to work with the City Council to implement a comprehensive ordinance. His plan includes a prohibition on binary triggers, the requirement for serial numbers on all firearms, and a public possession ban of assault weapons, especially in recreational centers and libraries. The total 2026 budget weighs in at approximately $887 million, with the General Fund accounting for $404.9 million, and a proposed property tax levy hike of 5.3%, as stated in the news release. This would mean an increase of roughly $107 annually or $9 monthly for a median-valued home.
For those interested in diving deeper, detailed documents of Mayor Carter's 2026 Budget Proposal, as well as the full text of his budget address, can be viewed here.
