Photo Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's proposed budget will avoid layoffs while increasing the property tax levy by 5.3%.
Why it matters: It's a no-frills budget two months ahead of a mayoral election in which Carter has attracted a serious challenger in DFL state Rep. Kaohly Vang Her.
What's inside: Carter said his budget reduces spending across departments and deals with a $23 million deficit in part by not filling vacant positions.
It includes $5 million toward subsidies for office-to-apartment conversions as the city looks to get downtown out of a tail spin.
The big picture: While Carter's budget would raise taxes on the median-valued home ($289,000) by $107 next year, the pain for St. Paulites will run deeper.
Ramsey County is proposing a 9.75% levy increase, which would tack on another $134 a year to the median home. St. Paul Public Schools' levy referendum, if approved by voters, would add another $309 a year, according to the Pioneer Press.
Carter is also proposing a 14% increase in sewer rates.
What we're watching: How much the City Council tries to change Carter's budget before they need to pass it in December. Last year, the process was contentious after Carter proposed a 6.9% levy hike.
