Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ramsey County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues in taxes budget
Capital Host program for property tax relief
Minnesota offers programs like the Homestead Credit Refund to help homeowners with property tax burden, which matters because property taxes hit lower-income households hardest relative to income.
Federal priorities and new-senator outreach
Federal priorities include delaying or rolling back SNAP and Medicaid changes, housing and homelessness funding, and public safety grants. Commissioner Moran pushed for broader positions like Medicaid for All; staff are preparing outreach to one or potentially two new US senators and developing earmark requests.
Lake Owasso facility financial stability
The county wants state help — likely a rate increase — to keep the Lake Owasso residence facility financially stable as care and reimbursement environments change. Commissioner Jebens-Singh stressed getting ahead of it to protect a community asset.
2027 Capital Improvement Program Bonding
The county will ask for $6.5 million in state bonding to renovate the Aldrich Arena and Community Events Center — a busy venue for graduations, cultural events, and markets — for energy, accessibility, and revenue sustainability. County Manager Becker also pitched a new multi-year bonding strategy.
HR 1 Medicaid and SNAP Impacts on Counties
Commissioner Jebens-Singh flagged national policy shifts — HR 1's Medicaid and SNAP changes and proposed OMB funding clawbacks — hitting counties like Minnesota's especially hard, and urged advocacy to blunt the harm locally.
HR 1 staffing and jail overtime reduction progress
The county filled all 28 new eligibility specialists to handle new federal Medicaid redetermination rules (a $1 million annual cost heading into the 2027 budget), and hired 36 correctional officers to cut jail overtime — on track for $600,000 in savings this year and $2.6 million in 2027.
Workday ERP Implementation (Project Northstar)
The county is replacing 22-year-old HR and finance systems with Workday, live in January 2027. Employees get simpler time entry and phone-photo expense receipts; managers get real-time budget and overtime controls — something Commissioner Xiong tied to resident concerns about budget overruns.