St. Paul council proposes $27,000 budget to raise police oversight pay

The St. Paul city council proposed a new budget line on Wednesday to increase compensation for volunteer members of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission. The plan replaces a fixed fee structure with a flexible annual allowance, costing an estimated $27,000 in the coming year.

Complaints to the nine-member board have more than doubled in recent years. City data shows the number of cases rose from 54 in 2022 to 131 in 2026 through September. Andrea Ledger, the interim director of the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity division, cited the heavy workload as the primary reason for the change.

The board currently receives $50 for each meeting attended, with a cap of two meetings per month. Ledger stated that this rate has remained unchanged since 1993. She noted that the board's responsibilities have evolved, requiring a more responsive financial framework.

The proposal would remove the specific dollar amount from the city ordinance. Instead, the HREEO director would set the stipend amount each year, subject to council approval. Ledger described the shift as a procedural update rather than a permanent raise. The initial budget presentation suggested a $250 monthly stipend as a starting point for discussion.

Council member Cheniqua Johnson expressed concern about the recurring nature of the expense. She questioned whether making the stipend an annual budget negotiation aligns with past practices. The council laid over the proposal after the first reading and scheduled a public hearing for two weeks from now.