
The Anoka County Board of Commissioners approved a property tax levy increase of 3.97 percent during the board’s meeting Dec 6.
In September, the board adopted a preliminary budget that met the county’s goals and resulted in a 4.97 percent levy increase. At that time, commissioners directed county management to continue looking for more opportunities to reduce the levy. Staff found creative solutions to lower the levy, and this led to a final amount that is an entire percentage point lower than the preliminary levy.
Budget priorities for 2020 include public safety, cyber security, and preserving and maintaining the current level of county services. The levy pays for about a third of the county’s operational costs. The rest of the county’s budget comes from other sources, such as fees and state and federal grants.
“This final levy is the result of hard work and ingenuity,” said Scott Schulte, chair, Anoka County Board of Commissioners. “Staff took what was already a modest preliminary levy and reworked it to lower the amount, which is a testament to their expertise and dedication to serving our taxpayers in a respectful, innovative and fiscally responsible manner.”