Stearns County debates hefty property tax increase
- Stearns County residents may face a property tax increase as the county board considers a proposed 2026 budget with a levy increase of up to 12.3%.
- Potential reductions in the proposed levy increase, to 9.56%, are being explored through increased investment earnings, personnel vacancy savings, and reduced capital project levies.
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners is trying to create its 2026 budget, and it could hit the pockets of Stearns County property owners.
County staff on July 29 requested a tax levy of nearly $108.9 million, which is a roughly 12.3% increase from last year's $96.9 million levy.
However, the proposed 12.3% increase could be cut to 9.56%, or a $106.2 million levy, with possible increased investment earnings, personnel vacancy savings and reducing the levy for capital projects, according to county documents.
The funds with the highest year-to-year percent increase is procurement's request of a 45% ($208,000), county auditor at 17% ($1.08 million) and information technology at 17% ($918,000).
As for dollar amount increases, the human services department requested a 7% boost from last year, about $4.7 million, and the sheriff's office requested a 13% increase, which is about $2.6 million.
The sheriff's office is requesting four additional deputy sheriffs, which totals about $480,700, and one new lieutenant patrol at about $142,200, according to county documents.
Human services requested an increase in part due to impacts from the state budget. The state changed its cost-sharing agreements with counties despite it requiring many of the county's human services programs, Human Services Director Melissa Huberty previously said. Minnesota's new two-year budget is $66 billion, an 8% reduction compared to the previous biennium.
Stearns County warned the state this May about the impact its budget decision could have on local property taxes.
When asked about the shift in a press conference this May, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state doesn't have strict guidelines on how mandates on human services programs are run. "There is nothing that says they can't find the savings in this," Walz said at the press conference. "... In many cases, the state doesn't have a say in how these programs are implemented. We simply reimburse."
Areas for increased revenue includes improved investment earnings of $1.65 million and highway maintaince state aid income of nearly $232,900.
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners meets again at 9 a.m. on Aug. 12, according to the meetings calendar.
Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.