Stearns County preliminary budget calls for 7.14% increase

Stearns County preliminary budget calls for 7.14% increase

ST. CLOUD — Stearns County officials are proposing a 7.14% property tax levy increase for 2027, roughly half of the 14.3% increase initially requested by county departments. That number could shrink further, as commissioners have previously expressed interest in removing as much of the financial burden as possible from taxpayers. The preliminary budget, which will be presented to county commissioners on Tuesday, July 14, reduces the proposed lev…