County sets preliminary 3.5% levy increase

During their Sept. 15 meeting, county board members approved a preliminary tax levy increase of 3.5 percent, meaning that the property tax amount which will be expected for real estate not located within an incorporated community in 2027 will be higher by roughly 3.5 percent than in 2026.

 

For the current year, the county levied $19.2 million from property owners toward a total budget of $39.5 million. Anticipated amounts in 2027 are a levy of $19.8 million toward a total budget of $42.5 million. 

 

During a summary he provided during the meeting, county administrator Michael Johnson told commissioners that more than half of the income which supports county activity comes from state and federal funding sources, from grants, and from other types of taxes.

 

About 50 percent of property taxes supporting the county come from property zoned agricultural, and well over 40 percent from property considered residential. Johnson shared a partial list of the preliminary levy increases set by other counties in the state: a few counties were also in the vicinity of a 3 percent increase, but other numbers approached 20 percent.

As he summarized the procedures required under state law, Johnson explained that Minnesota requires all entities which rely on real estate taxes for funding set a preliminary levy amount before the end of September. Levy amounts for cities, school districts, townships and the county are placed on an individualized tax summary that is sent to property owners in November.

 

Property owners are also invited to attend a “truth in taxation” meeting which all entities must hold in December.

 

Waseca County’s truth in taxation session will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

 

Tax levy amounts continue to be counted as “preliminary” until the end of December, by which time entities must establish their “final” amounts. Under state law, the “final” amount can be lower than the “preliminary” one, but it cannot be higher.