Next year’s proposed property tax notices will be mailed to local property owners beginning in mid-November. The “truth in taxation” document provides taxpayers with information on how maximum tax levies passed in September by the county, city, and local school districts will impact next year’s property tax bills. 

Here’s how property taxes for the coming year are set: 

•       Local governments adopt a “proposed levy” in September that may not be exceeded when approving the final budget and levy. 
•       The county generates notices of proposed taxes that include all units of local government. 
•       Each local government must hold a meeting after the notices are sent, allowing public input before adopting its final levy is adopted.        Meeting dates and times are included in the notice sent to each property owner. 

Said Washington County Administrator Kevin Corbid: 

“The county budget is being impacted by higher costs to purchase goods and services, and a growing demand for services as the county population continues to grow. Cost shifts from the federal and state governments to counties are adding to that pressure and are expected to grow in 2027 and 2028,”.

He added: “The proposed property tax levy increase set by the board will allow us to meet our current obligations and provide the high-quality services our residents rely on — all while keeping Washington County’s property tax burden among the lowest in Minnesota.”

Information on the City of Woodbury website notes that its “preliminary 2026 total levy is $57,991,276 or 10.7 percent above last year, which is above our 15-year historic average increase of 5 percent. With the growth in taxable market valuations and the derivative net tax capacity, the property tax levy impact to the median value home ($441,100) is an increase of 9.6 percent or $130.”

According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, derivative net tax capacity is determined for each taxing district, “by equalizing differences in tax capacities by property type in different counties. This equalization process compares market values to actual sales and is intended to neutralize the effect of differing assessment practices.”

The City of Woodbury’s budget document also notes the following: 

“The City of Woodbury has long held the value that to be a premier and thriving community, public safety services also need to be premier. This involves investing in the training, development, strategic planning, physical facilities, safety, and well-being of a high-quality public safety team. This budget reflects that value and commits significant resources toward hiring and retaining quality employees on an on-going basis, adding new employees to meet the reactive and proactive demands of our growing community, and providing for a new Public Safety Campus in partnership with our community and their vote of support for a sales tax to meet those capital needs.”