Nicollet County board adopts 2025 preliminary levy of $27.34 million, sets public meeting

The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 adopted a preliminary 2025 property tax levy of $27,335,294 — a 3.5% increase — and set a public meeting for Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nicollet County Boardroom in St. Peter to receive public comment. The final levy and budget will be adopted at the board’s regular meeting on Dec. 17, 2024.

County staff told the board the proposed levy reflects higher costs for wages and benefits, capital spending and increases in services in criminal justice, road and bridge, and health and human services areas. Staff noted the county plans to establish a building fund with an initial balance of $1,000,000 and that certain debt payments, including for the health and human services building, will end in 2025, changing the county’s debt-service profile.

Staff provided illustrative taxpayer examples for context. For example, a property with an estimated market value of about $405,000 was described as seeing an approximate $58 change under the figures presented. Staff stressed those were examples tied to market-value shifts and the final tax impact for any parcel depends on individual assessed values and final levy changes.

On procedural grounds, staff cited Minnesota statutes governing levy certification and public meeting timing. The board approved the preliminary levy by roll call; Commissioners Dehen, Kolars, Zens and Drennell voted in favor. The board may reduce the preliminary levy before the Dec. 17 final adoption.

What’s next: the county will hold the public meeting on Dec. 5 to gather comment, then consider the final levy and budget on Dec. 17, 2024.