56° and Mist
Anoka County Sets $216.2 Million Preliminary Levy as Government Mandates Drive Costs Higher
ANOKA, MN (September 25, 2026). Anoka County commissioners have established a $216.2 million preliminary property-tax levy for 2027, representing a 7.95 percent increase over the county’s 2026 levy.
The preliminary levy establishes the highest amount the county may collect. Commissioners may reduce it before final adoption in December, but state law prevents them from increasing it after the preliminary amount has been certified.
County officials attributed part of the proposed increase to rising operating expenses and several state and federal requirements for which sufficient funding was not provided. The county specifically identified administrative changes involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, Minnesota’s Paid Leave program, the African American Family Preservation Act and reforms affecting disability and waiver services.
Together, the county said, those responsibilities add several million dollars in expenses that must be absorbed locally while existing services are maintained.
County Board Chair Scott Schulte acknowledged the significance of the increase, saying officials had worked to reduce what otherwise could have been a still larger levy. The county has not suggested that the proposed increase will affect every property owner uniformly. A property’s final bill will depend upon its assessed value, classification, changes in the tax base and the levies established independently by cities, school districts and other taxing jurisdictions.
The levy comes as Coon Rapids and other Anoka County communities conduct their own 2027 budget processes. Residents therefore could see changes in several separate portions of their eventual property-tax statements, not only the county portion.
The county is expected to continue revising its spending plan before adopting a final budget and levy later this year. Detailed budget material is available through the county’s online financial portal.
STAY CONNECTED TO MINNEAPOLIMEDIA
Local stories matter. Subscribe free to MinneapoliMedia and receive independent news, community reporting and important updates from Minneapolis, the North Metro and communities across Minnesota.
SUBSCRIBE FREE: https://minneapolimedia.town.news/subscribe
MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life
