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Like so many cities in the era of COVID-19, St. Paul is dealing with a budget shortfall. Mayor Melvin Carter is asking department heads to prepare for cuts in the range of 6 to 7 percent in each department, including cuts of over $9 million from the city’s Police Department.

“We've already incurred significant costs associated with our COVID-19 response,” Carter told MPR News host Tom Crann. “We are expecting significant decreases in all of the revenues that we rely on, from property taxes to sales taxes to business license fees.”

Carter said the cuts are necessary despite a recent spike in violent crime in St. Paul.

“I'm not saying now's the time. I fully expect that I'll bring forward a budget full of things that none of us like, myself included,” the mayor said. “I fully expect that I'll bring forward a budget that we probably would never bring forward in any other circumstances.”

Mayor Carter must present his budget proposal to the City Council by Aug. 15.

For more of Mayor Melvin Carter’s conversation with Tom Crann, please click the audio player above. 

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Like so many cities in the era of COVID-19, St. Paul is dealing with a budget shortfall. Mayor Melvin Carter is asking department heads to prepare for cuts, including cuts of over $9 million from the city’s Police Department.

St. Paul Mayor Carter: City departments, including police, to face big budget cuts

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Police Chief Todd Axtell

St. Paul Mayor Carter: City departments, including police, to face big budget cuts

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