Rafael E. Ortega

Winter warming spaces and homelessness response

Already-funded county operations; no new appropriation tied to this update.

Effective end of veteran homelessness

No direct fiscal impact; reflects outcomes of prior coordinated investments.

Youth Justice Transformation

Implementation costs for county systems and placements are not yet quantified.

Adult Detention Center staffing costs

Jail staffing is one of the county's largest budget drivers and a key reason behind the levy increase.

Flock camera debate and due diligence

Pig's Eye Park encampment closure and emergency shelter response

$1.08 million from St. Paul plus county funds — nearly $2 million combined for shelter beds.

Election security and misinformation response

911 Joint Powers Agreement modernization

The 60% county levy / 40% city cost split based on call volume is not changing; radio console upgrades could cost up to $13.1 million depending on a state ARMER work group.

ARMER emergency radio funding

Ramsey County's share would exceed $13 million without a statewide solution.

Operation Metro Surge public safety costs

$379,800 drawn from the county's General Contingency Account.

Homelessness response and the Heading Home Ramsey continuum

Nearly $800,000 in new state money, including $316,000 in direct assistance, usable through June 2028.

Aging and disability assessment waitlists

The 80 positions were already budgeted; the staffing push ended overtime use and is expected to reduce county cost share for state facility stays.

Crisis response services grant

No local cost — fully grant-funded at $300,000.

Homelessness response coordination

WIC participation and family home visiting

Federal WIC funds flow through MDH per participant but don't cover full program costs; family home visiting is largely grant-funded with stagnant rates.

Public health clinics and TB incidence

TB care for uninsured patients is a county cost; the federal Title X grant does not fully cover clinic costs; state-operated services and stagnant grants strain the budget.

Project Bridge pre-sentenced programming

$2 million per year in ongoing base funding from the levy increase approved with the biennial budget; community corrections absorbed the cost in 2025.

County communications reach and Gen Z podcast

Bringing media training in-house saved about $15,000; the interpreting app saves roughly $96,000 a year.

Language access and translation services

Transition to county medical examiner model

The change will show up in a future budget cycle as the county takes on staffing the office directly.

Local Public Safety Funding for Operation Metro Surge and First Amendment Protected Events

Grant Agreements with Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Community Crime Intervention and Prevention Programs (2026-041, B2026-092)

Authorize the County Manager to transfer $379,800 from the General Contingency Account to the Sheriff’s Office 2026 budget to fund the costs of local public safety services associated with Operation M

Local Public Safety Funding for Operation Metro Surge and First Amendment Protected Events

1. Accept a grant award and approve a grant contract agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Office of Justice Programs for Crisis Response Services for the period upon execution th

Grant Agreements with Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Community Crime Intervention and Prevention Programs (2026-041, B2026-092)

1. Approve the joint powers agreement with the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, 1430 Maryland Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106 to utilize the Minnes

1. Ratify the submittal of the grant applications to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, for Community Crime Intervention and Prevention Programs. 2. Accept a grant