Shakopee council adopts 2026 property tax levy after 3–2 vote amid debate over EDA spending

Shakopee City Council voted 3–2 on Dec. 16 to adopt the property tax levy collectible in 2026, concluding a contentious discussion about local priorities and how growth should pay for city services.

Council member Delaney opposed the levy increase and urged keeping taxes flat, saying the EDA land purchase was a poor use of taxpayer funds: “My concern is we purchased land with, I think, about a $150,000 … this our taxes should not have gone toward that,” he said. Council members who supported the levy — including Councilor Whiting and others — argued the city must fund services, public safety and staff pay as costs rise. Whiting told colleagues, “You have to spend money to make money,” urging investment to attract higher‑paying jobs.

The levy package the council approved included two resolutions listed in the packet as R 2025‑TACK‑141 and R 2025‑TACK‑142 and was advanced after deliberation about the city’s budget priorities and growth‑related costs. Council discussion noted that while Shakopee is comparatively low taxed, rising service needs and inflation affect the city’s ability to maintain levels of service without additional revenue.

Why it matters: The decision sets the city’s property tax collections for 2026 and will affect residential and commercial taxpayers next year. Several councilors emphasized they had received mixed resident feedback, and one warned that even modest increases can hit people on fixed incomes.

What’s next: The adopted levy funds the 2026 annual budget; councilors said they would continue to monitor costs and return to the topic if actual bids or revenue projections change.