Stearns County Approves 6.81% Preliminary Property Tax Levy for 2027

(KNSI) — Stearns County commissioners unanimously approved a preliminary 2027 budget Tuesday, setting a property tax levy increase of 6.81%, while encouraging department heads to hunt for more savings.

The county’s tax rate is projected to rise 1.3%. The rate climbs less than the levy because the county’s overall property value is growing, which spreads the cost across a bigger tax base. The county estimates the owner of a $296,000 home would pay about $72 more next year on the county portion of the tax bill.

Several commissioners say they want to keep looking for savings before the final vote. Commissioner Bob Johnson wants the board to use its next three or four budget meetings to go through every department. “The low-hanging fruit is gone, but go after those things that really don’t add value.”

Commissioner Tarryl Clark reminded the board and the public that a share of the pressure isn’t coming from inside the county. “The legislature and the federal government basically are pushing tax increases, property tax increases, and it’s just kind of crazy.”

Clark, a former state senator, says lawmakers from both parties share the blame by shifting costs. “It’s like, ‘oh, we didn’t do anything that impacted the state budget.’ Hell no, you just impacted people’s property taxes, including some of the most vulnerable people.”

The $108.9 million levy covers about half of the county’s proposed $216.1 million budget. It works as a ceiling: commissioners can lower it before final approval in December, but they can’t raise it. County departments originally asked for enough to push the levy up 14.3%. The budget committee cut that roughly in half, partly by tapping reserve funds that sit well above what the state recommends.

Departments also asked for 24 new positions. The budget includes 11, among them a patrol deputy, two dispatchers and three correctional officers for the sheriff’s office. Most are paid for with other money, so only about $89,000 lands on the levy.

Human services is the biggest driver, with its share of the levy climbing nearly 13% to about $40.2 million. Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other state and federal programs are shifting costs to counties, and the county plans to cover part of that with about $1.5 million from its human services reserve.

A Truth in Taxation hearing is set for December 1st at 6:00 p.m. The board will adopt the final budget on December 15th at 9:00 a.m.

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