If you’ve been following the local news lately, you’ve likely heard about the differing property tax levy proposals by the Mayor of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Superintendent. You also likely have seen the Board of Estimate and Taxation mentioned in those news articles. While MPF is not taking a position on what the maximum property tax levy should be in Minneapolis or how that should be divided, we do feel it is important for us to help educate our supporters about what is being discussed and key upcoming meetings where decisions will be made.
What is being proposed?
The basic difference between the two proposals is how much an increase MPRB will get in property taxes from 2026 to 2027. The Mayor is proposing, as a starting point, an increase of 2.5% and MPRB is proposing an increase of 5.86%. The tables below summarize the different proposals.
MPRB Proposal
| 2026 (actual property tax amount) | 2027 (proposed property tax amount) | $ Change | % Change | |
| City of Minneapolis | $443.0 million | $503.0 million | $60.0 million | 13.6% |
| MPRB | $95.0 million | $100.5 million | $5.6 million | 5.86% |
Mayor of Minneapolis Proposal
| 2026 (actual property tax amount) | 2027 (proposed property tax amount) | $ Change | % Change | |
| City of Minneapolis | $443.0 million | $503.0 million | $60.0 million | 13.6% |
| MPRB | $95.0 million | $97.3 million | $2.3 million | 2.5% |
What percentage of Minneapolis property taxes go to MPRB?
The percentage of Minneapolis property taxes going to MPRB has been declining over the past decade from 18.5% in 2017 to 17.3% in 2026. With both the Mayor’s and MPRB’s proposal, this decline would continue.
What is the Board of Estimate and Taxation?
The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) is an independent local government body that sets the maximum property tax levy caps for the City of Minneapolis and the Park Board. It also acts as a check on municipal spending and authorizes public debt like general obligation bonds. The BET is made up of 6 people:
Board of Estimate and Taxation Membership
| Mayor of Minneapolis | Jacob Frey |
| City Council President | Elliott Payne |
| City Council Budget Committee Chair | Aisha Chughtai |
| MPRB Commissioner | Tom Olsen |
| BET Elected Member | Steve Brandt |
| BET Elected Member | Eric Harris Bernstein |
What happens next and how can you participate?
The BET will hold a public hearing about the maximum 2027 property tax levy on September 9, 2026 at 5:05 pm at the Public Service Center (PSC), Room 350 (250 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN). A final vote on the maximum property tax levy for 2027 will happen on September 23, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
Residents of Minneapolis can directly contact the members of the BET ahead of these two meetings. Email addresses can be found on the BET’s website. Residents can also attend the in person or use the City of Minneapolis online public comment form.
Image Credit: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board