Blaine EDA adopts 2026 property tax levy after amendment to keep it flat fails

The Blaine Economic Development Authority on the final meeting of 2025 approved a resolution establishing the final 2026 property tax levy and EDA budget after rejecting an amendment to keep the levy flat.

Director Zimmerman, presenting the package, said the EDA’s mission is to spur economic growth, create high-quality jobs and expand the commercial tax base. He described long-range redevelopment priorities — including a large sports-and-entertainment redevelopment in the 100-and-fifth area — and said the proposed levy increase would fund operating needs and targeted initiatives that support those goals.

Zimmerman told the board the EDA has supported land acquisition and public financing gaps for redevelopment projects and runs a loan program for local businesses. He said the EDA’s operating fund covers staff and property holding costs, while a targeted-initiatives fund (fed in part by future promissory-note proceeds) accounts for nonoperating activities such as land acquisitions and incentives. Zimmerman estimated the proposed 6.5% levy increase for 2026 would raise about $75,000 and would translate to roughly $1.45 per year on the median-valued Blaine home ($346,000), or about 13¢ per month.

Commissioner Nuland moved an amendment to remove the $75,000 increase and keep the levy flat, saying the EDA’s nonoperating expenditures are hard to measure and that recent tournament-related receipts had left excess funds. "The EDA, we don't need the — it's not operating funds," Nuland said when offering the amendment.

Commissioner Robertson opposed the amendment, urging the board to view EDA spending on a five- to ten-year horizon and to preserve flexibility for redevelopment and programs outside the primary redevelopment area. Robertson said EDA funds also support loans and assistance for residents. "If we're gonna do all this stuff for people that want to be in 105th, we should be able to do it for people outside of 105th," Robertson said.

The board took a division on the amendment; the clerk recorded three ayes and four nays, and the amendment failed. After brief additional remarks — including Commissioner Ford’s statement that investing yields future returns — the board adopted the 2026 levy and EDA budget by voice vote with some opposition recorded.

The EDA’s action finalizes the authority’s operating and targeted-initiatives budgets for 2026. The board did not identify any immediate change in service level; next steps will be implementation of the approved budget and continued work on the identified redevelopment projects.