Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ramsey County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with medium priority
ARMER emergency radio funding
Counties and cities currently pay for the ARMER public safety radio network themselves; Ramsey would face over $13 million in costs if it had to absorb its share. The county wants statewide state funding and governance.
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.
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.
Landlord engagement for housing stability
Vice Chair Xiong hosted a first-ever listening session with property owners and managers about renting to people with housing vouchers — part of Heading Home Ramsey County's effort to expand housing options. Even the Public Housing Authority is reportedly over $500,000 in debt doing this work.
Critical Corridors funding for small business districts and redevelopment planning
The HRA is spending $478,988 of its levy on planning studies and small business district improvements, including wayfinding signs that help people find local shops. This round expanded eligibility to downtown St. Paul, which drew extra funding and awards.
Creation of Environmental Services Department
The county is moving environmental health out of Public Health into its own department under Economic Growth and Community Investment starting January 1, 2027. Staff say day-to-day work won't change, and it should raise the visibility of climate, recycling and energy work. The public can weigh in at a November 3 hearing.
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.
Urban heat island sensor network
The county accepted $747,450 in federal funding to build an urban heat island sensor network aimed at safety and heat mitigation over two years.
Election Coverage
Ramsey County is heading into election season, and this guide breaks down the local races you’ll see on your 2026 ballot. If you care who runs county government, it’s a quick cheat sheet before you vote.
Parks and environmental education grants
Two DNR grants — $320,731 for ReLeaf tree planting and $438,000 for inclusive nature education — will fund parks and environmental programming through 2030.
Public Works staffing increase
The county is adding 7.5 positions to Public Works, funded by sales tax revenue rather than property taxes.
2027 Regional Railroad Authority tax levy
The authority certified its maximum 2027 levy of $36.2 million while keeping the levy increase at zero percent. That means the railroad authority isn't adding any new property tax burden this year.
Flock camera debate and due diligence
Sheriff Fletcher calls Flock license plate readers the best crime-fighting tool he's seen in 40 years, crediting it for a 40% crime drop. County Manager Becker is surveying city administrators and doing due diligence before the board weighs in — a November discussion is expected.
Transition to county medical examiner model
Ramsey County will stop contracting with Dr. Mills' private firm and hire its own medical examiner and pathologists by 2028. Officials say residents won't notice a service change, and contracts with Washington County and Dr. Mills will bridge the 2027 transition year.
Expungement access and Clean Slate implementation
The County Attorney's prosecutor-initiated expungement program helps people clear felony records — worth a 20% income boost on average. Commissioners want more outreach and an expungement clinic, and the state's Clean Slate law isn't fully running yet.
Emergency management preparedness and grant uncertainty
A new director is building countywide emergency readiness — 25 department continuity plans nearly done, heat response teams activated — but over half the office's budget depends on federal grants that are increasingly uncertain.
Adult basic education services via Metro East Consortium
The county renewed its joint powers agreement with the Metro East Consortium so adult basic education services continue through June 30, 2027. It's a routine intergovernmental agreement that keeps adult learning programs funded and running.
Chloride and water quality
Road salt is raising chloride levels in county lakes, hurting aquatic life. Public Works is buying $600,000 of salt this winter and working with watershed districts and cities to cut usage — a rare case where saving money and protecting water align.
Environmental center hazardous waste collection
Food scrap collection is rolling out to northern Ramsey County communities now, with Roseville and Falcon Heights expected in December and Saint Paul in early 2027. 347 tons of food waste have already been diverted from landfills, and participation is around 13%.
WIC participation and family home visiting
Over half of babies born in Ramsey County are on WIC, which serves about 17,500 people monthly across six clinics. Family home visiting returns $1.80-$5.70 per dollar spent and reduces out-of-home placements — but federal funding isn't keeping pace with inflation, and Operation Metro Surge cost the program an estimated 151 missed visits (~$140 each).
Public health clinics and TB incidence
The county's clinics (immunizations, TB, sexual health at Clinic 555 — the only Title X site in Minnesota) served mostly uninsured and low-income residents, plus 70,000+ encounters in correctional facilities. Ramsey's TB rate runs three times the state average and four times the national goal; only three TB clinics exist statewide.
Project Bridge pre-sentenced programming
Launched April 2025, Project Bridge moved about 60 pre-sentenced detainees from the overcrowded jail into Ramsey County Correctional Facility programming. 98% of sentenced residents participate in programming; residents in a video praised therapy, classes, and better conditions. The county board previously locked in $2 million ongoing funding.
Community advisory board diversity and subrogation recovery
About 36% of advisory board applicants are racially or ethnically diverse; commissioners flagged long-tenured members blocking new voices and asked for term limits discussion. A new subrogation program recovered $141,463 — an 84% rate — from responsible third parties in 2025.
County communications reach and Gen Z podcast
The county's Hmong-language TV show drove a 202% jump in Hmong-language service center requests, and a new Gen Z podcast just recorded its first episode. Commissioners pressed on reaching seniors who aren't online.
County building energy use and renewables
Energy use rose 8% in 2025, but that beat the 18% the weather alone would have predicted; consumption is down 41% since 2008, saving about $2 million a year at today's rates. On-site renewables are at just 0.21%.
Invoice payment, contracting speed, and investments
Finance pays 97-98% of invoices on time, and contract solicitations dropped from 36 weeks to 23 weeks with a goal of 18. Late payments cost the county $100,000-$300,000 a year in interest. Investment returns beat the Treasury benchmark at 4.2%.
MFIP employment outcomes and family coaching investment
Only about 40% of BIPOC MFIP participants exit to employment. The county put over $500,000 into the family coach model in the 2027 budget as ARPA funds expire, and Commissioner McGuire called for an MFIP workshop.
Election administration and record primary turnout
Commissioners praised the elections team after the highest non-presidential primary turnout in county history, with an elections-preparation workshop scheduled that afternoon.
Contracts for election services with cities and school districts
The county runs elections for 16 cities and 4 school districts. New contracts are being finalized and will come to the board as one action before year-end, with a price increase to cover judge raises, new voting booths, and growing absentee voting costs.
Language access and translation services
The county deploys 50+ professional interpreters, a phone line covering additional languages, and a new video remote interpretation app at 36 locations — though only two voters used the app during the primary.
Arden Hills subsurface drain restoration
The county approved up to $2.4 million to restore a failing subsurface drain system at Arden Hills, funded from reserves and bond interest.
Emergency management leadership
Kendall Bobula, an emergency management veteran from Connecticut and Boston, was officially appointed director, with a focus on regional partnerships and equitable preparedness.
Cooperative project delivery agreement and governance
A second, still-in-progress agreement will spell out how the county and Met Council make joint decisions — including a project decision board of elected officials reviewing budget and scope at each design milestone, with a $150,000 threshold for items between milestones.
Johnson Parkway bridge near retirement community
A transit-only bridge key to the project's reliability comes within about 50 feet of a Real Life Cooperative senior building; staff are studying whether the alignment can shift further away and will meet with residents this fall.
Regional parks and trails bonding funds
The Met Council got $10 million in bonding for metro regional parks and trails, and Ramsey County Parks expects about $1.3 million — likely for maintenance and boat launch improvements.
Workforce development and youth career pipelines
The county is hosting its largest job fair of the year at Allianz Field on June 30 with 40 employers, and introduced this year's 31 Right Track interns working across county departments.
County Sheriff Youth Gang Violence Approach
Somali leaders in the Twin Cities are publicly criticizing the Ramsey County sheriff over how he handles youth gang violence. The fight matters because it could reshape county public safety policy and deepen—or repair—trust between Somali residents and law enforcement.
Medical Examiner Drug Toxicology Grant
A $125,000 state grant will boost the Medical Examiner's Office capacity for illicit drug toxicology testing and surveillance through August 2028 — better tracking of drug trends affecting the community.
Countywide organics recycling rollout
Food scrap collection is rolling out to northern Ramsey County communities now, with Roseville and Falcon Heights expected in December and Saint Paul in early 2027. 347 tons of food waste have already been diverted from landfills, and participation is around 13%.
Federal housing bill awaiting presidential action
Chair Xiong noted a major housing bill passed by Congress is sitting on the president's desk, tied publicly to passage of the SAVE Act. It would streamline CDBG disaster recovery funding, expand HOME program use, and cap institutional investors at 350 single-family homes.
County Manager Performance Evaluation and Salary Increase
County Manager Ling Becker got a 'distinguished' evaluation and a raise to $283,550 starting August 1. Commissioners praised her crisis leadership and service improvements, but a few noted there's always room to improve service delivery.
R&E Budget and 2027 Tipping Fee Increase
Haulers will pay $159 per ton at the Newport facility starting in 2027, up from $142, to fund the food scrap program expansion and transfer stations. Those costs generally get passed on to residents' garbage bills.
County performance measurement and public data transparency
The county reports ten performance measures to the state auditor each year for a $25,000 incentive. Commissioners flagged the county's high low birth weight rate and racial disparities in birth outcomes as troubling, and confirmed the report is posted on the county's open data portal.
Hamm's West End Development remediation
The old Hamm's Brewery building on the East Side's Lower Payne Avenue has survived demolition attempts and now gets $250,000 for asbestos cleanup as part of a redevelopment adding 70 affordable units. Historic rehabilitation plus housing on a long-vacant landmark.
2027 Commissioner Salary Ordinance
Commissioners approved their own 2027 pay raise plus an expense allowance of roughly $800 a month, over objections from two residents who cited recent cuts to libraries, detox services, and burial assistance. The ordinance was adopted as Resolution B2026-075 on a 7-0 vote after a public hearing.
Park at RiversEdge funding
The board authorized moving up to $1.2 million in bond interest and premiums into the downtown St. Paul park project — funding one commenter criticized as debt for a 'downtown park' when basics are being cut.
HRA levy balance: housing vs. business use
Commissioner McGuire pressed to ensure the HRA levy — fundamentally a housing fund — isn't tilted too heavily toward business use. Staff affirmed affordable housing remains the primary focus, with business supports adding flexibility for mixed-use projects.
Pediatric mental health training grant
A $265,000 state grant will train county staff and community providers to better identify and treat mental health issues in youth — from pre-K through young adulthood — with monthly trainings and case consultation for nearly two years.
Public Health Center relocation to Maplewood
County public health clinics moved from 555 Cedar to a former medical clinic at 1850 Beam Avenue in Maplewood, opening June 1. The syringe services program stays downtown St. Paul while a new site is found.