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Brooklyn Park Weighs Double-Digit Tax Levy Increase as Hennepin County Considers Similar Hike
Brooklyn Park Weighs Double-Digit Tax Levy Increase as Hennepin County Considers Similar Hike
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Property tax levy discussions are underway in Brooklyn Park and Hennepin County as both governments begin shaping their 2026 budgets. While proposals vary, both jurisdictions are signaling significant increases that could impact thousands of residents and businesses across the north metro.
What is a tax levy?
A tax levy is the total amount of money a governing body — such as a city or county — plans to raise through property taxes to fund its budget. It represents the “ask” from collective property owners within the jurisdiction. Importantly, a levy increase does not always translate directly to a higher tax bill for every individual; actual impacts depend on how a property’s taxable value changes relative to the overall tax base.
Under Minnesota law, preliminary tax levies must be certified to counties by September 15, with final levies adopted and certified in December.
Brooklyn Park: Public Safety vs. Status Quo
In Brooklyn Park, city leaders are weighing two options for the 2026 levy:
- 7.87% increase — This would maintain current service levels and cover rising costs in areas such as police, fire, public safety, and public works. However, critical funds for equipment like snowplows and police vehicles are projected to run dry in coming years under this scenario.
- 11.17% increase — This would fund investments in public safety, adding police officers and firefighters as recommended by recent organizational studies. Even with this higher option, long-term equipment funding shortfalls would persist.
A higher figure of 12.5% was also publicly floated in earlier discussions, though several city council members and Mayor Lisa Jacobson have expressed concern that such an increase may be too steep, preferring to keep the final levy under 10%.
The Brooklyn Park City Council is expected to adopt its final 2026 levy and budget in late December.
Hennepin County: Discussions Ongoing
Details regarding a nearly 8% increase in Hennepin County’s 2026 property tax levy remain under discussion. While the county board has not yet finalized a figure, the proposed level is in line with other nearby jurisdictions.
For example, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has proposed a 7.8% city property tax levy increase as part of the city’s 2026 budget. That plan would sustain core services and cover a structural deficit, translating into an average increase of about $240 for the typical Minneapolis homeowner. The Minneapolis City Council is scheduled to hold public hearings before approving its final budget in December.
Similarly, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is expected to set its maximum 2026 levy later this fall, with final action also due in December.
What’s next
As both Brooklyn Park and Hennepin County work through their budget processes, residents can expect spirited debates over how to balance growing service demands, public safety needs, and the burden on taxpayers. With inflation and rising costs straining municipal budgets across Minnesota, levy increases in the high single digits — or beyond — appear increasingly common heading into 2026.
