St. Paul police board pay to rise

Volunteer members of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission in St. Paul may see their pay structure change. The board currently receives a fixed stipend, but city leaders want to shift to a new model that allows for higher, flexible payments.

The nine-member group reviews completed police investigations. Complaints to the board jumped from 54 in 2022 to 131 by September of 2026. Andrea Ledger, the interim director for Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, noted that the Rose Avenue incident in November 2025 added a heavy workload to the commissioners' duties.

Commissioners currently earn $50 for each meeting, with a limit of two meetings per month. Ledger stated that this rate has remained unchanged since 1993. She argued that the board's work has evolved and requires an update to match its current demands.

During a budget proposal presented on Wednesday, the HREEO team suggested removing the specific $50 figure from the ordinance. The new language would allow the director to set the amount each year, subject to council approval. The morning presentation suggested a stipend of $250 per month, which would cost the city an estimated $27,000 annually.

Council Member Cheniqua Johnson expressed concern about making stipends a recurring annual budget discussion. She noted that this approach seemed inconsistent with past practices. Ledger described the change as a simple process adjustment.

The council laid the proposed change over after its first reading. A public hearing is scheduled for two weeks from now to discuss the terms before a final vote.