A report released by the Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer’s office last week shows the majority of property owners across the county will see higher tax rates in 2025.

The report shows six of seven cities and six of the of nine townships will have higher tax rates this year.

The City of Baldwin, formerly Baldwin Twp., is not included in the comparison report since 2025 is its first year collecting taxes. The report lists the city’s 2025 tax rate as 15.250%. The former township had a tax rate of 13.874% in 2024.

In the townships for 2025, Livonia Twp. has the highest tax rate increase, from 17.118% to 19.535%.

Next is Haven Twp. with an increase from 13.497% to 15.644%.

Becker Twp. is third highest  with an increase from 17.653% to 19.462%.

All the other townships saw an increase of less that one percent. They are Santiago Twp. (12.4605 to 12.978%); Palmer Twp. (12.658% to 13.148%) and Blue Hill Twp. (11.690% to 11.840%).

The three townships that have a lower tax rate in 2025 are Big Lake Twp. (19.437% to 18.982%), Clear Lake Twp. (13.275% to 12.920%) and Orrock Twp. (17.644% to 17.601%).

In the cities, Zimmerman had the highest rate increase, from 36.083% to 39.513%.

Becker was next with an increase from 45.998% to 48.928%.

Princeton was third highest with an increase from 54.922% to 56.535%.

Next was Big Lake (36.384% to 38.718%), followed by Elk River (37.817% to 39.524%) and East St. Cloud (53.167% to 53.973%).

Clear Lake had the only tax rate decrease in 2025, from 47.534% to 45.375%.

Six of seven school districts also have higher tax rates in 2025. Big Lake Dist. 727 is the only school with a lower rate (28.417% to 27.935%).

The remaining six with increased rates are; Foley Dist. 51 (19.564% to 24.304%); Princeton Dist. 477 (21.063% to 22.062%); Becker Dist. 726 (19.262% to 19.685%); Elk River Dist. 728 (23.924% to 25.252%); St. Cloud Dist. 742 (21.263% to 21.697%) and Monticello Dist. 882 (13.525% to 13.632%).

The county’s tax rate also increased, from 36.597% to 38.267%.

Tax rates are not completely indicative of a property owner’s final tax bill. That depends on the actual individual property value. Because of an increase in valuation, a property could have higher taxes even with a lower tax rate.

Total taxes payable will also be affected by local levies, like fire district taxes, Economic Development taxes and Housing and Redevelopment taxes.