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Blaine council adopts 2026 budget and certifies $54.23 million levy in roll-call vote
Summary
After extended budget deliberations, the council approved the 2026 property tax levy of $54,230,000 (a 9.9% increase) and adopted the city budget. The vote was taken by roll call; several council members voiced support for continued fiscal reforms while one member opposed the measure.
The Blaine City Council voted to adopt the 2026 city budget and certify a property tax levy totaling $54,230,000, a 9.9% increase from 2025, at its Dec. 15 meeting.
Director Zimmerman presented the budget and levy as the culmination of a year-long process that included 13 public meetings and a Dec. 1 truth-in-taxation hearing. He described priorities embedded in the budget such as prefunding capital equipment, maintaining public safety and infrastructure investments, and efforts to reduce reliance on the property tax levy through alternative revenues. "The final property tax levy that's in the resolution before council this evening is at $54,230,000 which is a 9.9% increase from 2025," Zimmerman said. He also reported that for a median residential property (estimated market value $346,000), the city portion of the tax bill is projected at $1,330, about a $113 annual increase.
Council members commended staff for the lengthy process and asked questions about long-term fiscal strategy. Council member Masolia said he would not support the budget, repeating concerns he raised at the truth-in-taxation hearing: "I am not gonna be able to support the budget this year." Other council members described a multi-year strategy to reduce bonding and move toward prefunding capital equipment.
Council member Masolia requested a roll-call vote, which the clerk conducted. The recorded vote was: Fleming ' Aye; Ford ' Aye; Larson ' No; Miss Solio ' No; Newland ' Yes; Robertson ' No; Mayor Sanders ' Aye. The motion passed and the council certified the levy as the maximum amount to be submitted to the county for collection.
Zimmerman and other staff noted assistance programs available to taxpayers, including homestead and special property tax refunds and a senior deferral program administered by the state. The council directed staff to continue budget work and scheduled further budget discussions and a January retreat focused on five-year planning.
Next steps: municipal staff will certify the levy to the county and continue implementation of the adopted budget and follow-up budgeting work in early 2026.
