It is Friday, and Fridays are for fun. We just got our proposed property tax notice. Our proposed taxes are 38 cents lower for 2026 than what we paid in 2025. Apparently, our home has decreased in value. I think the county overvalued it last year.
I expect property taxes to increase every year. I am not sure what to do with the extra 38 cents. Maybe someone made a mistake. I’ll wait until we get a bill before investing any more time in thinking about that 38 cents.
The number of homes for sale is up, but still low compared to demand, which is why prices remain high and continue to rise. Homes are selling quickly with a slight seasonal slowdown. There are a large number of condos on the market in downtown St. Paul, and prices are lower than in other neighborhoods. Association dues are high due to increases in insurance costs. The national condo market is also being negatively impacted by high insurance costs, leading to higher dues.
The St. Paul neighborhoods with the most affordable housing are seeing the greatest price increases over the last five years or so.
Today is the last day to vote, and it is election day. The ballot in St. Paul is relatively straightforward. We get to elect a mayor, vote on Question 1, and vote on more money for the school district.
If you do not know where to vote or if you have questions about voting, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
Polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.
I walk every day and am thankful that I live in a walkable neighborhood. Fall is the shortest season, but this year the leaves peaked a little later than usual. We may have another week of decent weather. Go for a walk.
The leaves that fall off the trees each fall are often treated as waste. They are raked and removed. There are other options. I like to make a pile of leaves to add to my compost during the winter. I use my lawnmower to grind some of the leaves into the grass and green weeds that make up my lawn.
Some of the leaves can be left where they fall to be used as cover for hibernating insects. They will also be used in the spring for bird nests. They can be used to cover perennials to protect them over the winter.
Yes, you can take leaves to Ramsey County yard waste collection sites. The leaves will be composted, and the compost will be available next spring.
If you do nothing with the leaves that fall this season, that is alright too. They do not harm humans or wildlife.
