October 28, 2026 - Budget Committee Meeting

The City of Saint Paul Budget Committee met on October 28, 2026, to review proposed 2027 budgets for the City Attorney’s Office and the Office of Neighborhood Safety. The City Attorney’s Office described proposed investments in prosecutor and litigator technology platforms, two data-practices specialist positions, and one civil attorney, while also proposing to eliminate a vacant paralegal position and fill another role at the associate-attorney level. The office said it sought to carry forward $300,000 budgeted for immigrant defense and naturalization support but unspent in 2026; an RFP process had occurred and contracts were nearing completion. Members also discussed the $175,000 Downtown Alliance-supported community prosecutor position, data-practices workload and technology needs, and temporary ARPA funding for victim-witness services. No vote on these items was identified in the transcript.

The Office of Neighborhood Safety presented its 2027 priorities, including Project PEACE and Familiar Faces. It proposed adding 0.5 FTE to support Familiar Faces and carrying approximately $366,000 in remaining ARPA funds into 2027 to support the team while a Department of Justice grant runs through May 31, 2027. The presentation also covered contracts with community partners, including 180 Degrees, and a completed Project PEACE evaluation; committee members requested clearer measures of program outcomes and clarification of how temporary funds and ongoing expenses would be handled. The transcript includes questions about a possible $160,000 ongoing general-fund expense, but does not clearly establish its status. No procurement approvals or votes were reported.