St. Cloud Budget, Downtown Development Input Sessions Scheduled for September

(KNSI) – St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says the downtown task force continues to work to attract private funding for a revitalized city center.

There will also be a bid to get $100 million in state assistance for improvements needed to make the community’s vision a reality. Kleis says there have already been numerous meetings where input was gathered to guide officials on a new downtown.

“What do you think we just asked for that input and then shelf it? No! We don’t ask for input and shelf it. We take that, and we try to figure out ways to fund it. Now, we can’t put that whole burden on the property tax, so we look for partnerships. That’s why we’re asking for state bonding because it is the state that will benefit for it.”

Kleis says whether it is the annual budget or a special task force, it is important for the city to stick to its core competencies like roads and infrastructure when using public money.

Even though city staff is using previous meetings for guidance, you will have chances to make your voice heard. Kleis says, “[Saturday], September 9, I’ve got a big input session at city hall that morning, on this and everything else, but in particular, on bonding. We take that, and we never do anything without a public hearing, even when we’re not required to. I started the process of having a public hearing on the preliminary budget. That will be on September 11. Cities aren’t required to do that, but I think it’s important to have public input.”

The final budget will be approved in December. The city won’t find out about the success of its bonding request until the 2024 legislative session in St. Paul.

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