Preliminary Property Tax

At the September 15 Board meeting the Preliminary 2027 County Levy was set at $151,350,166.  Due to the 2026 overcharge of $1,523,101 and the accrued interest from this overcharge of $57,116 the billed amount for property taxes will be $149,769,949.  (County Levy of $151,350,166 minus $1,523,101 and minus $57,116 = $149,769,949.)  This is 4.56% over 2026.  The Preliminary County Level means that the final property tax cannot be greater than the preliminary level.  The 2027 property tax will be finalized after the Truth in Taxation session held December 1, 2026 at 6:00PM and the budget will be adopted at the last Board meeting of 2026 on December 15 at 6:00 PM.

This preliminary levy was reached by reducing the 2027 budget by eliminating full-time positions and reducing or delaying capital improvement projects.

 

Your Property Tax Bill

Olmsted is working with our vendor who sends out the property tax bills to include an additional piece of information with your property tax bill that will show the amount you have been credited for the 2026 overcharge and your final property tax after the credit.

 

2027 HRA Levy set

The County also set the levy to fund the Housing and Rehabilitation Administration.  HRA has programs to reduce homelessness, provide emergency housing, build and maintain apartments for low-income people, and work with private industry to build single family homes.  The HRA Levy for 2027 was set at 0.0185% of the estimated 2026 taxable value.  This rate did not increase from last year.  The 0.0185% rate is the maximum allowable rate which is set by the state.  This tax levy will produce about $5,500,000 for the HRA to use for housing.  The HRA levy is separate from the county tax levy and also is a part of your total property tax bill.

 

Strategic Priority

Ensuring environmental sustainability is one of Olmsted’s strategic priorities.  To attain this priority Lorenzo Munoz was hired in January as the first Sustainability Coordinator.  You can learn more about Lorenzo and his role in the county’s environmental sustainability efforts at: https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/government/county-news-events/county-news/update-olmsted-countys-sustainability-initiatives?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

 

1 in 8:  Concerns about Pressures on future County Budgets

The county delivers the Human Services for the state.  The state mandates that these services be provided but fails to adequately fund them.  As the population in our state ages the projected costs for care increases tremendously.  By 2029, 1 in every 8 general fund dollars is projected to be spent on elderly waivers (long-term care costs) and disability services Minnesota’s per capita spending on disabilities is the highest in the nation at about $53,000.  Maine’s per capita amount is about $31,000.

 

Loss of Federal Money?

Federal Government may defer or withhold Medicaid reimbursement, child care and other assistance funds (about $515 million to Minnesota and Another $250 million of SNAP funds).  Minnesota and Olmsted continue to work with the Federal Government on resolving these issues.

 

Immunizations and Teeth

Public Health is busy with back-to-school activities.  Our public health department organizes Immunization Clinics at schools in the county.  A dental task force has also been established to help kids who need dental care.  Immunizations control the outbreaks of serious diseases.  Measles outbreaks are at the highest level in recent years.  Measles is highly contagious and can cause death.  According to Public Health, the best way to control the spread of measles is by immunizations.

 

Materials Recovery Construction Progresses

The MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) will allow Olmsted to recovery more useable and valuable material from the waste stream.  The recovered materials will be sold or reused.  These efforts are not only good for the environment but will also help to defray the operating costs of Olmsted’s waste management.  For more information go to:  https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/government/county-news-events/county-news/materials-recovery-facility-mrf-construction-update?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

 

National Recognition

Olmsted County Public Health Services received national recognition for its innovative regional population health data model which is now considered a best practice.  We all can take pride that Olmsted leads the state in many ways and that our Public Health Department establishes best practices for Minnesota.

 

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

• Starting October 1, 2026, the federal reimbursement for administration of SNAP benefits will drop from 50% to 25%. For October, November, and December 2026 this change will cost us about $261,650.  In 2027, the full annual impact will be about $1,098,930.  In addition, Olmsted will have to pay a share of the of the SNAP benefit cost of about $318,462 for the quarter.  By 2028 when total loss of federal reimbursement and the new cost share for benefits take effect it will cost Olmsted about $2,460.000**.
• To put this into perspective related to property taxes: A 1% levy increase raises about $1,300,000.  The 2028 budget will require a levy increase of 2% just for SNAP; that will be in addition to all the other expenses of Olmsted County; it is up to Congress to decide if these changes to SNAP will be made.

**Congress can modify or delay this cost shift. The final provisions are still be debated/negotiated in both the House and Senate Farm Bill which is still being drafted. The State of Minnesota can also mitigate some or all of these costs to the county.

 

The Railroad says OK

Olmsted County Public Works received the necessary approval from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) for the bridge design on the County Road 44 and Highway 14 interchange.  This allows Olmsted to move forward with the process of accepting bids for its construction.

 

16 More Spaces

Parks and Trails will add 16 more parking spaces at Lake Zumbro Park.  Olmsted provides free boat launching and recovery docks at Lake Zumbro, this has increased the popularity of the park.  The additional parking places in addition No Parking areas along the road leading to park will make it a better experience for people visiting the park.

 

Non-citizens

Medical Assistance Eligibility will end for noncitizen adults starting October 1, 2026. (Some non-citizens have eligible immigration status and may not be included in this action.)  Olmsted is in the process of working with state to determine what actions are necessary to carry out this mandate.  Some non-citizen adults may qualify for MinnesotaCare or other emergency care programs.  Our Human Services staff is working diligently to comply with this mandate.  Olmsted will send required information to the state which will be responsible for reporting the information to the federal government.  Very likely there will be a cost of administering these changes but that cost and the possible reimbursement is not known at this time.

 

Vote

Absentee voting begins Friday, September 18.

1. You can vote absentee by mail. Ballots must mailed to Olmsted Elections Office, 2122 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 300, Rochester, MN    Ballots must be received at the Election Office by Election Day (if you vote by mail remember to mail your ballot early to allow the Post Office sufficient time to deliver the ballots).
2. You can take your absentee ballot in person to the Elections Office during normal business hours. The Elections Office will also be open two Saturdays before the election day.
3. You can also vote in person (Early Voting) at the Elections Office and submit your ballot directly into the tabulator October 13 – November 2. Early voting is also available at Rochester City Hall.

For more information go to:  https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/government/county-news-events/county-new/voting-absentee-november-general-election