Olmsted County Sets Preliminary 2027 Property Tax Levy

The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners certified a preliminary property tax levy of $151,350,166 for 2027, marking a 6.8% increase of over $9.6 million compared to 2026. The board also approved a 2027 Housing Redevelopment Authority levy of $5,804,098, an increase of $235,554. County leaders attributed these increases to rising service demands and shifts in state and federal funding requirements.

To address a previous error where most property owners paid an extra $10 to $30 in 2026, the county will bill property owners $149.8 million. This returns $1.5 million in mistakenly collected taxes and $57,000 in interest via credits on March 2027 statements. The decision to apply credits rather than issue refunds was settled by a 4-3 board vote in April.

To balance a projected $364.9 million budget, the county is reducing expenses by leaving positions vacant and cutting purchase of service contracts. However, major capital projects will proceed, including improvements to Graham Park and road work at the intersection of Trunk Highway 14 and County State Aid Highway 44. The board is scheduled to finalize the budget and levy on December 15.