Mayor Reinert Proposes ‘Inflation-Only’ Levy Increase

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert formally proposed a 4.1 percent property tax levy increase for the city’s portion of the 2026 levy.

He says new growth within the city will bring the percent down to an “inflation-only” 2.7 percent. Today’s announcement was made at the city council’s agenda session. This comes after the city administration earlier this spring said a 17 percent levy increase would be needed to handle next year’s $ 7.3 million deficit if the city continued to operate without any changes. Reinert said specific budget strategies will be shared in a budget draft over the next few weeks.

“Two big principles for me are that property taxes be both affordable and sustainable, meaning not just affordable one year, but affordable moving on into the future, and now, as we move forward, we’re going to continue to be really focused on, you know, what is the minimum amount,” said Mayor Reinert.

Some of Reinert’s budget strategies include “tighter departmental targets, administrative efficiencies, a review of all vacant positions, and addressing the sizeable Duluth fire overtime budget.”

The city council will set the city’s maximum property tax levy before the end of the month. The final budget will be voted on by mid-December.