Making Sense of Property Taxes
Are your property taxes going up?
Proposed Property Tax Notices are arriving in Ramsey County mailboxes this week. This is the proposed property tax that you will owe in 2026, but the final tax levies and budgets have not been officially approved yet. Your property taxes are levied by a variety of authorities including your city, your school district, the Metropolitan Council, and the county.
"All seven counties in the Twin Cities metro area are proposing higher property tax levies—by roughly 10% in Ramsey, Dakota, Scott and Anoka counties," according to the Star Tribune.
However, what you see on your proposed property tax notice is the maximum amount you will owe. Final tax levies may be lower after final approval.
Here are some of the reasons your property taxes may be higher in 2026:
Property values
Your property value is determined by a Ramsey County tax assessor who determines the approximate selling price of each parcel of property based on current market conditions. Your property taxes are based on the relative proportion of your property value to the total taxable tax capacity of the county. So if your property value goes up at the same rate as everyone else's, your property tax will stay the same. If your property value goes up more than average it will result in a tax increase.
This video created by Ramsey County is a helpful overview of how property taxes are calculated:
Increased city budget due to inflation and personnel salaries
On Sept. 22, the Roseville city council adopted a preliminary city tax levy of $33.9 million for 2026. This is the maximum "not to exceed" tax levy. The city council also adopted a 2026 Economic Development Authority (EDA) tax levy of $264,826. This represents a combined 12% increase over 2025. This is largely due to inflation and increased operating costs. In Roseville, the 2026 budget includes hiring more police and fire personnel, partially funded by federal grants.
According to the city's estimates, for a median-valued home worth $378,600, that increase equals about $15.70 more per month, or $188.40 for the year. The final levy will be adopted in December and could be lower.
Naomi Krueger
The capital projects levy for technology in Roseville Area Schools
The State of Minnesota calculates an annual levy for every school district based on state funding formulas. This is not a local choice. Voter-approved referendums and levies are separate, which you'll see indicated on your proposed property tax statement. For the Roseville Area School District, the new capital projects levy that was approved in the 2025 election is not yet reflected in the numbers. The tax impact of this levy on a $350,000 home in the Roseville Area School District will be approximately $18 more per month.
According to this January 2025 data from the Minnesota House Research Department, 21% of public school funding comes from property taxes:
Changes in federal funding to counties
The federal government has changed how it is funding and administering certain programs at the county level, including SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC, which is putting more of the cost burden on counties. Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire told the Roseville Reader that the reduction in federal funding and changes in responsibilities to counties will result in higher property taxes.
"They say they're saving money [at the federal level], but all they're doing is moving it all down to the local government," McGuire said.
Naomi Krueger
The Metropolitan Council's overall levy is increasing by 2%
The proposed payable 2026 levy of $97.98 million represents a 2% increase over the amount payable in 2025.
The Met Council operates Metro Transit, Metro Mobility, and other transit services; collects and treats wastewater; plans and funds land acquisition for regional parks and trails; and operates rent assistance programs and provides affordable housing through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
The individual budgets for each tax authority and the nuances of how property taxes are calculated are not comprehensively described here. If you're the type of person who wants all the detail, click on the links throughout this article and at the bottom for further context.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that property taxes go up when property values go up. It's more complicated than that. That section has been corrected.
Public Hearing Information
City of Roseville Truth-in-Taxation Hearing
Date: December 1 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Roseville City Hall | 2660 Civic Center Dr, Roseville
Metropolitan Council 2026 Budget Hearing
Date: December 3 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers | 390 Robert St. North, Saint Paul
Learn more
View the 2026 Met Council Budget
Roseville Area School Board Proposed 2026 Taxes Hearing
Date: December 9 | 6:00 pm.
Location: Aŋpétu Téča Education Center | 1910 County Rd B West, Roseville
Note: The district's school-year budget is usually approved in June
Ramsey County Public Hearing on Proposed 2026 Budget
Date: December 11 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Saint Paul City Hall–Ramsey County Courthouse | 15 W Kellogg Blvd in Saint Paul
Learn more
The public hearing on Ramsey County's proposed 2026 budget and property tax levy is an opportunity to share your feedback on the proposed property taxes. Your input will be shared with the relevant taxing authorities, such as your city and school district. So if you can only attend one hearing, this one is the most comprehensive.
More Context:
Cullen Holt
Peter Cox
