St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced on Thursday morning his proposal for the city's 2023 budget. The total number for the plan came out to $740 million.
Carter made the announcement at an event at Harriet Island Regional Park. He says the budget will "bolster the broad array of city services our residents rely on alongside investments in the streets."
He continued saying that it will look to address "building maintenance, safety inspection backlogs, the rebuild of Kellogg bridge, and a new inheritance fund to expand home ownership in our city for those impacted by the construction of I-94."
The plan calls for $26.9 million in additional spending, resulting in a property tax levy increase of over 15%. That would amount to about $231 a year for the average homeowner in the city.
Carter addressed the price tag on the budget, saying he is looking to uphold the promises made to upkeep the city's first-class public services, spaces, and transportation infrastructure made by city leaders 20 years ago.
"Those are bills that are coming due today," Carter said.
The proposal includes money to increase police ranks and maintain core services, while half of the increase would lead to doing away with fee-based services like street sweeping, lighting, and seal-coating.
Carter's budget proposal will need approval by the entire city council.
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