NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 22, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
Office: 218-725-5049 Cell: 218-591-2219
County Board approves levy, honors emergency responders, delays vote on township petition
The St. Louis County Board met at the Cook Community Center, with three agenda items of particular note.
Commissioners approved the 2027 maximum property tax levy, limiting the increase to 6.25%, or $12.67 million, despite even higher operating costs and budget pressures. Levy impacts will be offset by the county's estimated 7% property tax base growth this past year, which includes a record-setting $337 million in new construction.
As was previously reported, the County took numerous actions to cut spending and absorb an additional $12.1 million in operational expenses through staff reductions, restructuring, consolidation or reduction of services, and targeted use of fund balance. This was necessary due to increasing expenses, including costs that were shifted to counties to implement federal and state programs. More information on factors shaping the levy can be found here: County Board considers 2027 property tax levy.
Minnesota counties are required by law to set their maximum property tax levy - that portion of the budget collected through property taxes - by the end of September. As the Board and staff work to finalize the 2027 budget over the next few months, the levy amount may be reduced, but it cannot increase. Commissioners are expected to vote on the final budget and levy for 2027 on December 15.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the County Board held a public hearing following a petition from some Greenwood Township property owners requesting to split from the township and instead join Goodwill Township. Following numerous questions about property tax impacts and communications to property owners, commissioners voted to continue the public hearing to November 10, when the Board meeting will be held at Gilbert City Hall, 16 South Broadway Street in Gilbert.
The County Board, Sheriff Gordon Ramsay and Arrowhead EMS also took time to honor nearly three dozen emergency responders and 911 staff for their extraordinary efforts in three separate incidents that all occurred less than a week apart around Memorial Day Weekend. In each case, thanks to quick and collaborative work, a life was saved.
The first incident happened May 27 in Morse Township. Responders provided immediate life-saving interventions, restored vital signs on scene, and kept the patient stabilized during transport to a hospital. Responding agencies recognized include Ely Area Ambulance, Morse Township First Responders, Ely Police Department, and St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and 911.
The second incident occurred on May 30, Emergency 911 staff successfully provided instruction to a man to perform CPR on his father until responders arrived. That response included use of the Sheriff's Office's LUCAS device that provides automated chest compressions. Agencies honored include St. Louis County 911 and Sheriff's deputies, Ely Area Ambulance Service, Morse Township First Responders, and Babbitt Fire and Police Departments.
The third event occurred in Lake County on June 1, with both Ely Area Ambulance and Morse Township First Responders assisting in providing life support measures to stabilize and revive the patient prior to transport to a hospital.
St. Louis County Sheriff's Emergency Support Services Administrator Dewey Johnson, who oversees 911 emergency communications shared that during the summer months of June, July and August, the 911 team assisted with 42,000 incidents, connecting people with the responders who can help. Johnson also noted that the majority of response agencies in St. Louis County are volunteers.
 Sheriff Gordon Ramsay and the St. Louis County Board honored nearly three dozen emergency responders and 911 staff for their life-saving work on three incidents that occurred less than a week a part in the northern part of the county.
 Responders and 911 staff honored for their lifesaving work on May 27 include, L-R, Michael Hari, Dana Morgen, Kayla Daugaard, Anna Kruger, Emily Warnygora, Dustin Moravitz, Adam Shadio, Amy Rasmus, Dewey Johnson, Sara Schlosser and Sheriff Gordon Ramsay. Not pictured are Alyssa Richards, Ted Kruger, Mike Rocklin, Troy Bissonette, Carmen Kimball, Jake Lassila, Tom Cusick and Steve Eck.
 Responders and 911 staff honored for their lifesaving work on May 30 include: Front row, L-R, Kayla Daugaard, Dana Morgen, Kathy Littler, Dustin Moravitz, Ebony DeLovely, and Marty Vagle. Middle row: Mike Jenkins, Tony Chamberlin, Erin Folz, Sean Luce and Brent Giesen. Back row: Ryan Stauber, Jake Mather, Emily Warnygora, Adam Shadio, Dewey Johnson and Sheriff Gordon Ramsay. Not pictured are Stephen Rieckhoff, Jake Eckman, Ben Morgan, Torsten Odinson, Scott Garrick, Jon Shenett and Ty Smidt.
 Responders honored for their assistance on a Lake County call on June 1 include, L-R Michael Harri, Jean Serson, Kayla Daugaard, Emily Warnygora, Dustin Moravitz, Adam Shadio, Dewey Johnson and Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.
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