Brooklyn Park Council Votes To Cap Property Tax Levy Increase at 7 Percent

The Brooklyn Park City Council has begun wrestling with difficult budget challenges that will include some sort of city property tax increase next year.

The question between now and mid-December is determining precisely how much 2027 city property taxes would go up. 

At Monday’s city council meeting, the council took preliminary action by approving a maximum property tax levy increase of 7.04 percent. The city council could still lower that figure when members take a final budget vote, scheduled for Dec. 14.

According to city finance director LaTonia Green, factors contributing to a budget increase for 2027 include the city building a new PUPS facility where lost pets or stray animals are taken.

The city previously had an arrangement with Maple Grove, which is also building a new facility. Brooklyn Park, however, determined it was cheaper long term to build its own facility rather than contracting with another city.

Other budget factors, according to Green, include hiring new in-house city prosecutors to replace a contracted prosecution team that will no longer offer services due to retirement.

The city also needs to pay off debt service to build a new Central fire station.

Cost-of-living adjustments, health insurance benefit increases and inflationary pressures are other factors impacting the overall budget. 

The total 2027 budget proposed is $90.5 million, an 11.6 percent increase over the 2026 adopted budget of $81.2 million.

Brooklyn Park budget documents point out that state-provided funds called local government aid remain significantly below historical levels. The city received about $350,000 less compared to 2022.

The city’s fiscal disparities allocation — a wealth redistribution system for local governments with differing commercial and industrial tax bases — also decreased by more than $500,000.

What Homeowners Could Expect 

The median-valued home in Brooklyn Park is $339,300. If the 7.04 percent property tax levy increase were approved, it would amount to an estimated $12 monthly tax increase.

City staff had initially proposed a maximum 8.04 percent increase. Green said lowering the levy by a full percentage point would mean the city would have to reduce its budget by about $730,000.

Brooklyn Park city leaders plan to meet with department heads over the next month to determine areas to cut.

For comparison, last year’s property tax levy went up 4.54 percent, resulting in a $7 monthly increase on city taxes for the median-valued home. A tax levy increase of 12.5 percent was initially proposed last year.

Property taxes make up 77.6 percent of general fund revenue.

What Council Members Are Saying

Council members acknowledged difficult decisions lie ahead. However, Council Member Shelle Page said she wasn’t interested in cutting staff.

“I still regret we were so low last year that I feel like we’re doing catch-up this year. And that’s been a concern of mine,” said Page.

Mayor Hollies Winston, who is facing Page in a fall mayoral election, agreed the budget decisions will be challenging.

“The city has been up against the wall for quite some time. And so part of this is we’re going to have to make some very difficult decisions during this particular budget cycle,” said Winston.

Council Member Nichole Klonowski said there is little appetite for a significant property tax increase.

“Everything is more expensive. It’s more expensive to run government. It’s more expensive to feed my family. We have to meet in the middle,” said Klonowski. “And I do feel this year we’re going to have to make some challenging cuts because everyone is feeling the pinch.”

Brooklyn Park