The Numbers Don't Lie
Under Mayor Carter's administration, St. Paul residents are paying more while getting less. As the 2025 St. Paul mayoral election approaches, voters deserve to know the facts about rising property taxes, declining city services, and the school budget crisis affecting Minnesota's capital city.
What's Happening to Our City?
Basic Services Cut
While taxes rise, basic services are being reduced:
- Library hours cut at Arlington Hills[5]
- Recreation center hours reduced[6]
- Street maintenance and sidewalk repairs delayed[7]
- Vacant positions left unfilled across departments[8]
Residents Being Priced Out
Real St. Paul residents are speaking up:
- "You're pushing me out of my home with property taxes"[9]
- "My taxes have gone up 40% in three years"[9]
- "I've lived here 55 years, and you guys are trying to run me out"[10]
- Some facing 26% increases in a single year[10]
School Budget Crisis
More money for fewer students doesn't add up:
- $1 billion budget with declining enrollment[3]
- $108 million deficit despite record state funding[11]
- Asking voters for $37 million more annually[4]
- Property tax levy up 7.92% for schools alone[12]
Priorities Questioned
Where is the money going?
- Specialized programs while basic services suffer
- Multiple new initiatives without sustainable funding
- One-time federal funds used for ongoing expenses
- Focus on select areas while others are underserved
People Leaving St. Paul
Population peaked in 2020 and has been declining since:
- Lost 7,320 residents (2.35%) from 2020-2023[15]
- Peak population was 311,140 in 2020[15]
- Now down to approximately 304,000[15]
- Families moving to suburbs for better services
Police Overtime Crisis
Department consistently overspends budget:
- Overspent by $3M over past three years[16]
- Projected $5M overspend in 2024 alone[16]
- $700K contingency added for 2025[16]
- Pattern of budget mismanagement[16]
The Reality Check
Taxes are up 50%+ since 2019.[1] That's not sustainable for working families, seniors on fixed incomes, or young people trying to buy their first home.
Basic services are being cut.[5,6,7] Libraries, rec centers, and street maintenance—the fundamentals that every neighborhood needs—are being reduced.
Schools are asking for more money with fewer students.[2,3,4] The district budget has grown to $1 billion while enrollment dropped 16%. Where is the accountability?
Even Democratic Challenger Criticizes St. Paul Mayor Carter's Priorities
"Our city is not doing well... St. Paul should focus on fundamental services."[13]
— State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, Democratic Challenger
Even Carter's former employee and fellow DFL member recognizes that progressive policies like medical debt forgiveness aren't the city's job.[13] It's time to get back to basics.
Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting in St. Paul's 2025 Mayoral Election
St. Paul, Minnesota uses ranked-choice voting for the mayoral election, which means you can rank candidates in order of preference. Here's how it works and why your rankings matter in the November 4, 2025 St. Paul mayor race:
Rank Your Choices
You rank candidates from most preferred (#1) to least preferred. You can rank as many or as few as you want.
First Choice Counts
Initially, only everyone's first-choice votes are counted. If someone gets more than 50%, they win immediately.
Elimination Process
If no one has 50%, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes go to those voters' second choices.
Winner Emerges
This process continues until one candidate has more than 50% of the votes. Your backup choices ensure your voice is heard.
Our Recommendation for November 4, 2025
With five candidates running (Melvin Carter, Kaohly Vang Her, Yan Chen, Mike Hilborn, and Adam Dullinger),[14] you have real choices.
Consider ranking candidates who prioritize:
- Keeping property taxes affordable
- Funding basic services for ALL neighborhoods
- Fiscal responsibility and efficiency
- Accountability in schools and city government
Consider ranking Melvin Carter LAST—or not at all.
After 8 years of rising taxes and declining services, it's time for new leadership that works for all of St. Paul.
Vote for Change in St. Paul's 2025 Mayoral Election
Your voice matters in St. Paul, Minnesota. Your vote matters. The capital city can do better.
Early voting begins September 19, 2025[14]
Sources & Documentation
All information on this page is sourced from official city documents, public budget hearings, and news reports from credible Minnesota news organizations. Click any link to verify the information.
Property taxes up 50%+ since 2019: "Property taxes have increased dramatically over the last five years, more than 50% since 2019, which disproportionately affects residents of our lowest-income neighborhoods." — Saint Paul City Council, "Saint Paul City Council Adopts 2025 Budget," December 2024. https://www.stpaul.gov/news/saint-paul-city-council-adopts-2025-budget
16% enrollment drop, 6,200 fewer students: "Between the 2014–2015 and 2023–2024 school years, enrollment dropped by nearly 6,200 students — a 16% decrease." — SchoolMint, "Reversing a Decade of Declining Student Enrollment at Saint Paul Public Schools," 2024. https://blog.schoolmint.com/reversing-a-decade-of-declining-student-enrollment-at-saint-paul-public-schools
School budget grew from $698M to $1 billion: "The total adopted 2015-16 budget for the district was $697.8 million. In 2024-25, the total adopted budget was $1 billion." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "St. Paul Public Schools tries to stem enrollment losses with marketing, outreach to parents," March 16, 2025. https://www.twincities.com/2025/03/16/st-paul-public-schools-enrollment-losses/
$309 additional tax for school referendum: "The referendum would add $307 to the annual tax bills for the owner of a median-value home... asking residents to make up the difference by taking on more property taxes... approximately $26 more a month, or $309 more a year." — Star Tribune, "St. Paul could face double-digit property tax increases in 2026," September 2025 & KSTP, "St. Paul Public Schools asks voters to approve tax increase," July 19, 2025. https://www.startribune.com/as-election-spotlights-cost-of-living-st-paul-residents-could-see-double-digit-tax-increases/601472128
Library hours cut at Arlington Hills: "Twice a week come January, the Arlington Hills Public Library would open at noon instead of 10 a.m., a direct response to losing the hourly equivalent of 1.3 librarians and custodians to vacancies and retirements." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Here's how the St. Paul mayor's proposed budget will impact city libraries," September 13, 2025. https://www.twincities.com/2025/09/13/how-st-paul-mayors-proposed-budget-impact-city-libraries/
Recreation center hours reduced: "The budget Carter proposed... trims costs by reorganizing some departments, cutting underutilized hours at rec centers." — Star Tribune, "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter proposed 5.3% levy increase for 2026 budget," September 4, 2025. https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-budget-2026-levy-melvin-carter/601460710
Street maintenance and sidewalk repairs delayed: "The council budget also makes cuts to street resurfacing and sidewalk replacement... there will be $500,000 less available to fund other intended uses, including sidewalk reconstruction." — Star Tribune, "St. Paul City Council bucks Mayor Carter in passing lower tax increase," December 12, 2024. https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-city-council-bucks-mayor-in-passing-lower-tax-increase/601193962
Vacant positions left unfilled: "The budget leaves open many staff positions... the city will not fill vacancies across St. Paul's bureaucracy." — Star Tribune, "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter proposed 5.3% levy increase for 2026 budget," September 4, 2025. https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-budget-2026-levy-melvin-carter/601460710
Resident quotes about tax burden: Direct quotes from residents at Truth in Taxation hearings: "A woman from the North End said, 'You're pushing me out of my home with property taxes.' A resident of Ward 3 said his taxes have gone up 40% in the last three years, including 24% for 2025." — Star Tribune, "St. Paul City Council, mayor renew annual budget dance — with a difference," December 4, 2024. https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-council-mayor-carter-renew-annual-budget-dance-with-a-difference/601190901
Long-time residents being pushed out: "'I've lived here in the city for 55 years, and you guys are trying to run me out,' Dobie said... St. Paul resident Jimmy Sande said his property tax estimate from Ramsey County went up by about 26% under the proposed budget." — Minnesota Daily, "St. Paul residents concerned by proposed property tax increase," December 2024. https://mndaily.com/291534/city/proposed-property-tax-increase-concerns-st-paul-residents/
$108 million school deficit: "The district's 2024-25 budget included a $108 million deficit, in part due to federal pandemic aid expiring, inflation and declining enrollment." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "St. Paul Public Schools tries to stem enrollment losses," March 16, 2025. https://www.twincities.com/2025/03/16/st-paul-public-schools-enrollment-losses/
7.92% school property tax levy increase: "In December, the St. Paul school board approved a property tax levy for the 2025-26 school year in the amount of $220.8 million, a 7.92% increase and the maximum allowed." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "St. Paul Public Schools tries to stem enrollment losses," March 16, 2025. https://www.twincities.com/2025/03/16/st-paul-public-schools-enrollment-losses/
Rep. Kaohly Vang Her on city priorities: "'Our city is not doing well,' Her told Axios... Her, who used to work for the mayor, said she supports Carter's progressive polices like medical debt forgiveness, but doesn't think it's a city's job to provide them. Instead, St. Paul should focus on fundamental services, she said." — Axios Twin Cities, "St. Paul mayoral race heats up as Kaohly Vang Her announces run," August 4, 2025, and Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Here's who is running for St. Paul mayor," August 16, 2025. https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/08/04/st-paul-mayoral-race-kaohly-vang-her-announces-run
Election date and early voting: "The city of Saint Paul, Minnesota is scheduled to hold an election on November 4, 2025, to elect the mayor... Election day is Nov. 4, but early voting will begin Sept. 19." — Wikipedia, "2025 Saint Paul mayoral election," and Axios Twin Cities, "St. Paul mayoral race heats up," August 4, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Saint_Paul_mayoral_election
Population decline 2020-2023: "After the COVID19 pandemic and, between the year 2020 and 2023, St. Paul's population decreased by 7,320 (2.35%). For the same period, the rate of growth for the United States was 1.02%... The peak population was 311,140 in the year 2020." — Neilsberg, "St. Paul, MN Population by Year," April 2023. https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/st-paul-mn-population-by-year/
Police budget and overtime overspending: "The Council also invested $118.6 million into the Saint Paul Police Department, more than a quarter of the General Fund and representing nearly the entirety (99.4%) of the mayor's proposed budget... The $8 million increase reflects the contractual commitment to our SPPD officers' salaries, wages, and benefits... The department has overspent its overtime budget by $3 million over the past three years and is projected to overspend its current budget by $5 million this year alone." — Saint Paul City Council, "Saint Paul City Council Adopts 2025 Budget," December 12, 2024. https://www.stpaul.gov/news/saint-paul-city-council-adopts-2025-budget
Verification
All sources are from reputable Minnesota news organizations (Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, MPR News, Axios), official government websites (City of St. Paul, Saint Paul Public Schools), and publicly available records. We encourage you to click through and verify any information presented on this site.