St. Cloud Council to Weigh Budget Hike, Development Plans, and Nine Public Hearings Tonight

Originally published 4:20 p.m. August 20th, 2025

Updated 6:00 a.m. September 8th Day, 2025

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud City Council meeting tonight will be chock full of public hearings with nine scheduled in total.

The topics run the gamut from the 2026 governmental funds budget to delinquent special assessment fees that were never paid . Mayor Jake Anderson has proposed a $100.9 million budget for St. Cloud, a 13.4% increase from this year. It would help take care of deferred maintenance on city equipment and better retain employees. Salary demands have shot up in recent years due to inflation. The public now gets to weigh in.

One property is behind on paying for storm drain repairs made last year. The city will charge 4.38% interest on the outstanding balance. The new total is now $6,061.61.

The council has already approved the third addition in the Bear Ridge neighborhood. Now it has to okay vacating all drainage and utility easements, the city has to allow for the construction to go forward. The developer wants to put up duplexes and a townhouse building.

It will also deal with business related to Southern Ridge, which reaches all the way down to 41st Street South. A PUD is needed to allow for twin homes in that specific location. They are already allowed in other parts of the Bear Ridge area.

A PUD for the Lenzmeier property on 36th Street South would allow for a roughly 8,100 square foot addition to the office building on the western side.

The council will need to bless a move that has already made it through the state legislature and the St. Cloud Economic Development Authority to extend a tax increment financing district on undeveloped land off Division Street. It is bordered on the south by West St. Germain Street and lies between Cooper and 19 1/2 Avenue South. It has sat empty for decades, even with it being actively shopped for development due to concerns over access. There is no outlet from either Division or Cooper.

The final three all deal with government funding. The council will consider tax levies for the EDA and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Lastly, it will debate changes in city fees.

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