At its July 16 meeting, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners voted to support a tax levy increase request to the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) of 6.75 percent to maintain current park service levels and to care for park assets. If passed, the levy increase for the MPRB will result in a 1.20 percent increase in city property taxes overall, which amounts to an approximate $25 annual increase in property taxes – about $2 per month – for owners of a median $333,400 value home.
“This Board of Commissioners’ priorities are to care for park assets, protect the environment, serve the city’s youth and invest in employees,” explained Cathy Abene, MPRB President. “These are all reasons why we continue to be named as one of the top park systems in the nation.”
Currently, of every dollar Minneapolis homeowners pay for property taxes, eight cents go to the MPRB to maintain and program 7,059 acres of land and water in the top-rated park system, maintain and protect the urban forest (600,000+ park and boulevard trees), and support close to 31 million visits.
The proposed $95,524,537 tax levy includes three distinct elements that combined provide for the 2026 maximum property tax levy request. The first element is a $94,095,9323 request to maintain existing current service levels and uphold MPRB’s status as an employer of choice. This amount includes an increase of $3,231,050 for the provision for wage and fringe adjustments, $200,000 for the State of Minnesota’s Family and Medical Leave (initial estimate of one-half paid by the employer), $1,176,451 for other expenditures and inflationary pressures that are impacting the MPRB Budget. The second element is a request for $1,061,413 to provide the standard level of service for Graco and Upper Harbor Parks. The third and final element is a request for $367,191 to address increases in City of Minneapolis charges to the MPRB and includes an increase in the City General Fund Overhead charge of $133,459 and a new charge for the use of the City’s financial software of $233,732.
As required by State Law, the BET sets the maximum tax levy for the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Municipal Building Commission, and the Public Housing Authority on an annual basis. The BET is scheduled to set these maximum property tax levies on Sept. 17, 2025.
If approved by the BET, the Superintendent will present a balanced 2026 recommended budget based on a 6.75 percent property levy increase on Oct. 15, 2025. The Board will consider the Superintendent’s budget and adopt the 2026 tax levy and 2026 budget in December 2025.