NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 26, 2017
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
St. Louis County Board unanimously approves 2018 property tax levy
St. Louis County commissioners have unanimously approved the 2018 property tax levy at $132.2 million. The levy – revenue collected from property taxes – makes up about one third of the St. Louis County budget. The levy amount is a 4.45 percent increase from this year, however, nearly all of that will be offset by the estimated 3.95 percent growth in the property tax base.
The estimated impact of the tax levy increase is just .5 percent – and may be even less. For the owners of a $150,000 home, the increase would be .84 cents per year on the county portion of their property taxes.
"The budgeting process is an ongoing process. And that’s what good government does," said Commissioner Keith Nelson, chair of the Board's Finance Committee. "This levy is respectful of those people who are supporting this levy with their hard earned money. As we look at the impact of this proposed increase, it is truly minimal. This is what we need to operate St. Louis County.”
St. Louis County serves 200,000 residents spread across 7,000 square miles.
Factors in the 2018 levy are the following priorities:
- Maintain the current level of services in core areas of Public Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Public Works and other taxpayer services.
- Direct additional resources to address substance abuse and mental health issues. This includes supporting innovative opioid treatment programs and partnerships, expanding Mental Health Court across the county, and the embedded social worker within the Duluth Police Department.
- Address critical infrastructure needs to better serve residents and preserve county history.
- Make additional investments to support families providing foster care; and offset state funding cuts impacting our vulnerable adults.
- Support targeted investments in programs serving youth, including Camp Esquagama, and expanded 4-H and Youth in Action programs.
- Further stabilize the county's health insurance fund while absorbing negotiated employee pay increases.
- Maintain strong financial practices and AA+ bond rating
By law, Minnesota counties must set their maximum preliminary levy that portion of the budget collected through property taxes by the end of September. As the Board and staff work to finalize the 2018 budget over the next few months, the levy amount may be reduced, but it cannot increase. Commissioners are set to vote on the final capital and operating budget on December 19.
Two meetings have been set to collect public input on the levy and budget. They will be on November 30 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Virginia, and on December 7 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m. Citizens are also welcome to provide input at any County Board meeting, or by contacting commissioners directly. Contact information can be found at stlouiscountymn.gov/countyboard.
More information about the levy, and the budget process can be found online at stlouiscountymn.gov/budget.
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