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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth Communications Office
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information, please call 218-730-5309
DATE: 9/29/2026
SUBJECT: City of Duluth continues to make affordable property taxes a priority
BY: Kelli Latuska, Public Information Officer

City of Duluth continues to make affordable property taxes a priority

 

 

[DULUTH, MN] Duluth City Council approved the City’s 2027 maximum property tax levy at their meeting on Monday night, resulting in an effective property tax increase of 2.65% for the City portion of local property taxes. The property tax bill in Duluth includes the County, the City, Independent School District 709, and several special taxing districts.

 

The increase is less than last year’s proposed 2.7% effective increase and less than the trailing 12-month Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation. For the third consecutive year Duluth’s effective property tax levy increase is also the lowest among a peer group that includes the cities of Rochester, St. Cloud, Bloomington, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Saint Louis County.

 

The 2.65% effective rate also means the average annual effective property tax increase during Mayor Reinert’s three years as mayor is 1.78%.

 

“Keeping the city portion of property taxes low isn’t just a talking point,” said Mayor Reinert. “It supports the City of Duluth mission to provide effective and efficient core city services at a tax rate our residents and businesses can both afford and sustain.”

 

Reinert also noted that affordable city property taxes is one of the City’s five strategic priorities, alongside housing at all income levels, growing the commercial tax base, investing in streets and utilities, and revitalizing downtown.

 

“Keeping the levy affordable doesn’t mean we are standing still,” Reinert said. “We are making deliberate choices about where to put scarce resources including making targeted investments across Duluth. Improving neighborhood conditions, maintaining our parks, and fixing things people see and use every day.”

 

The 2027 city budget makes targeted investments while maintaining a focus on core city services. Among those investments are general fund support for a neighborhood blight mitigation specialist, shifting operational expenses out of the dedicated park levy so more levy dollars can be focused on parks capital improvements, and nearly $1 million for smaller capital projects throughout the city.

 

The 2027 budget process will continue through the fall, with the City Council scheduled to adopt the final city budget and levy in December.

 

 

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