Scott County to propose 8.36% property tax levy for 2026; residents raise concerns at public meeting

Scott County officials on Monday outlined a proposed 8.36% county property tax levy for 2026 and fielded more than two hours of public comment on the potential impact to homeowners and businesses.

Deputy county administrator Danny Linz said the levy recommendation reflects delayed and shifting state and federal costs, including roughly $713,000 in state-driven increases and about $135,000 in federal pass-through shifts. Linz said the county’s revenue forecast shows a modest 1.82% increase and that staff has set aside a $1,000,000 contingency in the proposed budget “for the additional requirements that we are going to have to have for SNAP, Medicaid, other state shifts” if implementation requires local spending.

Lin z walked the board and the public through a five-year forecast that assumes modest revenue growth, recurring contractual increases and a fund-balance policy that leaves an operating cushion. He said the county’s projected fund balance for 2026 is about 32.19% of operating expenditures, with a planned minimum operating floor of about 5% during the pre‑tax-payment season.

The presentation prompted a sustained public-comment period. Resident Matt Miron asked whether the county will administer the paid family medical‑leave benefit through the state or a third‑party administrator. Miron warned of delays and higher costs seen in other states and said: “the state is the last place that I put any of my clients” when evaluating insurance options. County officials responded that Scott County will use the state program for the first year and said they have solicited quotes from private administrators and continue to consider pooling options with other local governments.

Several residents sought clearer explanatory materials. Brandon Praznicki said the mailing that accompanied the tax statement did not make clear how much of the increase is driven by state or federal shifts and requested that spring assessment letters include a homeowner’s percentage change relative to the county average so taxpayers can judge fairness. Assessor Michael Thompson confirmed that Cedar Lake Township residential values rose about 15% on average this year, compared with a countywide change closer to 3%, and explained Minnesota law requires assessment levels to remain in a 90–105% range.

Officials stressed statutory deadlines and next steps: the board intends to adopt a final levy and budget at its Dec. 16 meeting and must submit levy figures by the end of the year. Staff said contingency dollars that are unused would reduce pressure on next year’s levy rather than be left unspent.

The meeting included repeated calls from residents for county advocacy at the state level and for clearer, percentage‑based explanations of how state and federal program changes affect local levies. The county said it participates in the Association of Minnesota Counties and regularly testifies and advocates for legislative change.

The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting; adoption of the levy is scheduled for the board’s next meeting on Dec. 16.