Annual Budget Process
Each year, all Minnesota counties must set the maximum property tax levy by September 30. The Proposed Property Tax Statements that homeowners and businesses receive in November of each year contain estimates of the next year's property taxes, based on property values which were established as of January 1 of the previous year and the preliminary levy set in September. That final amount property owners pay is often less than this amount, but it cannot be more.
Below is the timeline St. Louis County uses to prepare its budget each year.
Giving Input on the Budget
Citizens can speak during the public comment period (9:30-10 a.m.) before any County Board Meeting. Visit the Board of Commissioners page for the complete schedule. Additionally, a Public Budget Meeting is offered annually and is typically scheduled in late November/early December after Preliminary Tax Statements have been distributed.
People can also contact their County Commissioner any time by phone or email. Visit the Board of Commissioner page for contact information.. Individuals may also contact staff at budget@stlouiscountymn.gov to request more information.
The public is invited to attend the 2027 budget meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room (Room 200) of the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth (100 N. 5th Ave., Duluth, MN) to listen to a budget presentation, ask questions, and/or make comments. This meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook for viewing. Representatives from the assessor's office will also be available to answer questions.
The same budget presentation will be made at 1:00 p.m. after the Board and Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Hibbing City Hall (401 E. 21st Street, Hibbing, MN). The St. Louis County Board is scheduled to vote on the budget at its final meeting of the year Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026 (which starts at 10:00 a.m. with a public comment period beginning at 9:30 a.m.) in the Board Room of the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth.
2026 Budget Adoption
St. Louis County commissioners and department staff work to balance state and federal mandates, public needs, and impacts on taxpayers. The St. Louis County Board adopted the 2026 budget of $564,629,439. The levy, the portion supported by taxpayers, accounts for $202,669,428--representing a 12.4% property tax levy increase from 2025 to 2026. The impact of this levy increase will be lessened by growth of approximately 7%.
The 12.4% increase in levy was caused by multiple pressures with the largest areas being:
- 4.3% , Personnel
- Public safety investments, including Arrowhead Regional Corrections & Sheriff's Office personnel
- Competitive wages to support service delivery
- 3.0%, Health Insurance
- Increasing health fund claims and cost pressures
- 1.5%, Infrastructure
- Capital investments to ensure sustainability of County's infrastructure
- 1.5%, Revenue Reduction
- Decrease in County Program Aid
- Decrease in Taconite County Road & Bridge Aid, and National Forest Title I Road Aid
- Decease in Public Health & Human Services allocations
- 1.1%, State & Federal Impacts
- Paid Family Leave
- Elimination of State Waiver to cover costs of individuals with mental illness awaiting discharge
- Elimination of State Behavioral Health Fund allowance
- Federal reduction in SNAP administration payments
- 1.0%, Inflation
- Utilities
- Service contracts
- Materials
- Supplies
Additional Materials