Saint Paul is staring down a nearly $1 billion spending plan for 2027 and a projected $26 million gap, and city officials say they want residents in the room as they sort it out. The administration is rolling out neighborhood meetings in late June and early July, asking people to weigh in on everything from public safety to basic customer service.
Where the meetings are and what they'll cover
The mayor’s office has lined up four in-person sessions across the city at Frogtown Community Center, Sun Ray Library, Arlington Hills Community Center and Neighborhood House, each paired with a specific budget theme. The meetings are scheduled for the afternoons of June 15, June 22, June 26 and July 1 and generally run from about 4 to 5:30 p.m. The full list of dates, locations, discussion topics and RSVP links is posted on the City of Saint Paul’s budget engagement page, according to City of Saint Paul.
What officials are saying about the gap
City leaders say the $26 million shortfall is part of a bigger structural problem, with delayed costs and a reliance on one-time funding creating long-term pressure as they map out the 2027 plan. Rising prices for fuel and construction materials are adding to the squeeze, according to local reporting from the Pioneer Press.
How your input will be used
Officials say comments collected at these meetings, along with responses from surveys and questionnaires, will help shape the Mayor’s proposed 2027 budget and guide trade-offs between day-to-day services and long-term capital projects, according to City of Saint Paul. Residents who cannot make it in person can still weigh in through the online tools linked on that same page, where they can also dig into background budget documents before offering their priorities.
