Sartell Proposes $11.5 Million Levy For 2027, Tax Rate Stays Flat

(KNSI) – The City of Sartell is proposing a property tax levy of about $11.5 million for 2027, up just under $740,000, or 6.9%, from this year. The increase would come without raising the city’s tax rate for the sixth straight year.

Finance and Operations Director Rob Voshell laid out the proposed levy during a workshop Monday evening. He said the increase captures growth in the city’s tax base, then turned to what the citywide figure means at an individual property.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that everybody’s going to see a 6.9% increase in their property taxes. It’s going to depend on their market value,” Voshell said.

A homeowner whose market value is unchanged between 2026 and 2027 would see no increase in the city’s share of their tax bill, because the city is capturing growth rather than raising the rate. Values have climbed over the past six years, though, so many property owners have still seen their city taxes rise.

“So overall, levy is growing with tax base while maintaining a flat tax rate and continuing to follow our long-term financial strategy from our financial management plan,” Voshell told council members.

The levy is rising in step with the city’s tax capacity, the measure of total taxable value it uses in setting the levy.

Within the proposed levy, the biggest increase is on the capital side, about $564,000 more for equipment and infrastructure. The general fund, which covers day to day operations including police and fire, grows about $310,000. Debt payments drop about $134,000. The general fund remains the largest piece at more than $8 million, and roughly three out of every four dollars in it goes to wages and benefits for city employees.

Most of this year’s growth came from construction rather than from higher values on existing property. New commercial buildings, houses and apartments added about $43.8 million in taxable value, well above the city’s nine-year average of $26.2 million, while values on property that was already there grew at a slower pace than usual.

The council has not certified a preliminary levy. Under state law, that certification is due to the county by the end of September, and the final levy can be lowered but not raised after that point.

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