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Burnsville proposes $58.4 million levy for 2026, council adopts proposed budget and forwards final adoption
Summary
City staff presented the 2026 proposed budget and a 7.4% levy increase that would raise the combined city and EDA levy to about $58.4 million; the council adopted the proposed levy and the EDA approved its $700,000 levy, with final adoption scheduled for December.
Burnsville staff presented the city’s proposed 2026 budget and property‑tax levy at the Sept. 16, 2025, council meeting, recommending a combined city and Economic Development Authority levy of about $58.4 million — an overall 7.4% increase over the prior year. After a staff presentation, the council adopted the proposed levy and budget for public notice and required steps; the Burnsville Economic Development Authority separately approved a proposed EDA levy of $700,000 and the council ratified that action.
Deputy City Manager and CFO Jennifer Rohde told the council the proposed levy would increase the median homeowner’s tax bill by about $8 per month under current estimates. Staff reported estimated total revenues for all city funds of roughly $150 million and proposed expenditures and other uses of about $157 million for 2026. Property taxes were projected to make up about $58 million (39% of total revenues). Personnel expenses are the largest single category (about 39% of the overall budget); capital projects account for roughly 23% (about $35.8 million). Debt service is estimated at about $17.2 million.
Rohde said staff balanced the 2026 budget to the nonbinding 7.4% levy policy previously adopted and made effectiveness reductions of about $1.9 million to reach that target. Preliminary market‑value numbers show estimated market value just over $10 billion and taxable market value roughly $9.7 billion; staff noted those figures could shift slightly when the county issues final valuations. The city’s five‑year projection anticipates similar levy pressure in future years and estimates that maintaining current service levels will require roughly 7% increases in later years unless other revenue or cost changes occur.
The council voted to adopt the proposed levy and to recess so the EDA could convene and approve its proposed levy for taxes payable in 2026. The EDA approved its $700,000 levy and adjourned; council then ratified the EDA action and moved the budget process to the next steps on the calendar, including a final budget and levy adoption hearing scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025. Rohde noted additional work sessions are available if council requests more time before final adoption.
Materials, presentation slides and background studies supporting the budget — including IT capital, traffic signal, facility and fire standards analyses — are available on the city’s budget web page, Rohde said. Councilmembers did not request further substantive changes at the meeting; one councilmember recorded a dissent during the voice vote on the proposed levy, but the motion carried and the process will proceed to the legally required public notices and the December adoption vote.
