Hennepin County residents are staring down the prospect of significantly higher property taxes in 2026 as the county and cities plan on raising taxes.
When Minnesotans pay their property taxes, their city, county, and school district tax sums are all lumped together in one property tax bill. However, that total bill changes every year as jurisdictions adjust the taxes they levy.
Last month, Hennepin County announced that county property taxes could be increased by up to 7.79% next year under the county’s proposed property tax levy. This preliminary number amounts to $81.5 million. No county commissioners objected to the proposal.
Cities across Hennepin have also unveiled their preliminary tax increases. In Edina, the city proposed a 11% maximum increase. In Brooklyn Park, property taxpayers are looking at a potential 8% increase. Meanwhile, Minnetonka has proposed an increase of up to 7.935%.
These preliminary figures are proposed property tax increases and do not represent what the final increases will be; final property tax figures will not be set until December. Instead, these numbers represent the maximum limit that property taxes can be increased this year.
Jurisdictions are required to hold open meetings to inform residents about the increases. As such, Hennepin County residents have several weeks to talk with elected officials about the tax levies. The county is currently considering a 2026 budget of $3.09 billion.
Still, property taxes will likely go up in a big way as these tax increases stack on top of one another. For example, someone in Brooklyn Park could see their county property taxes go up by 7.79% while their city property taxes increase by 8%.
These increases, plus any adjustments made by local school districts, could significantly increase the overall property tax bill that shows up in the mail. Property taxpayers will get a notice next month that states the specific amount they will pay under the proposed levy.
According to Hennepin County, the proposed 2026 budget includes roughly $1.13 billion of collected property taxes. The remainder of the county budget is funded with federal dollars, state dollars, and fees.
In a press release, Hennepin County said the budget “addresses the current uncertainties from state and federal funding while continuing investments in communities, infrastructure and employees. Further changes or reductions in state and federal funding will put further pressure on local resources.”
Carver County, which is considering an 8% maximum property tax increase, said a quarter of its proposed levy increase is a “‘Legislative Impacts’ surcharge. The surcharge reflects recent federal and state legislative changes that shifted costs and reduced funding, requiring the County to budget for significant new financial impacts.”
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Brooklyn Park’s proposed 2026 tax levy was a potential increase of 8.77%. This story has since been updated.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
