Tax rates in some jurisdictions in Sherburne County could be increasing in 2026.

A report released by the auditor-treasurer’s office last week shows six of eight cities and three of nine townships in the county are proposing higher tax rates in 2026.

All nine townships held their annual meetings in March, at which time residents voted to either increase or decrease their tax levies.

In Becker Twp., the rate is proposed to go from 19.462% to 20.741%.

Blue Hill Twp. could see a slight increase from 11.840% to 12.077%.

Livonia Twp. is proposing an increase from 19.535% to 20.489%.

The other six townships are looking at a tax rate decrease.

The rate in Orrock Twp. is proposed to drop from 17.801% to 16.326%.

Big Lake Twp. is expecting a tax rate drop from 18.982% to 18.204%, with tax rates on properties within the Elk River Fire District falling from 19.516% to 17.603%.

In Clear Lake Twp. the rate is proposed to fall slightly from 12.920% to 12.200%.

The tax rate in Haven Twp. could decrease from 15.644% to 14.565%.

In Palmer Twp., the rate will decrease from 13.148% to 11.506%.

Santiago Twp. is looking at a decrease from 12.976% to 12.576%.

Like last year in the cities, Clear Lake is expecting a lower tax rate, from 45.375% to 39.093%.

In Zimmerman, the rate decrease proposed is 39.513% to 39.376%, with annexed property rates falling from 13.829% to 13.754%.

All the rest are proposing a tax rate increase.

Baldwin City is looking at an increase from 15.250% to 16.629%.

In Becker, the rate could go up slightly from 48.928% to 49.285%.

The rate in Big Lake is increasing from 38.718% to 40.021%. And the property tax rate in the rural service district (RSD)  is jumping from 5.642% to 6.071% .

Elk River could see a rate increase from 39.524% to 41.146%.

East St. Cloud is expecting a big increase, from 53.973% to 68.538%.

Princeton’s rate is rising from 56.535% to 59.611, with its RSD also increasing from 17.5% to 20.052%.

Based on the preliminary levy set in September, the report shows the county tax rate is expected to increase from 38.267% to 38.893%.  

Two of seven school districts that affect Sherburne County properties will also have higher tax rates in 2026: Princeton Dist. 477 (22.036% to 23.201%) and Big Lake Dist. 727 (27.935% to 30.052%).

The remaining five are proposing decreases. They include:

Foley Dist. 51 (24.304% to 22.066%),  Becker Dist. 726 (19.685% to 18.158%),  Elk River Dist. 728 (25.252% to 24.478%), St. Cloud Dist. 742 (21.697% to 21.613%) and Monticello Dist. 882 (13.631% to 12.921%).

Total taxes payable will also be affected by the market value of the home or business and other local levies. Tax notices were sent out in November. They include line items for each taxing jurisdiction, taxes in 2025 and proposed 2026 taxes.