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The full North Branch City Council has kept the preliminary levy hike for 2027 at less than double digits— but the hope expressed is there can still be reductions found.  The final levy needs to be adopted in December.  At the nine percent hike currently, Mayor Kevin Schieber observed during the levy  discussion that he likes a number closer to eight percent.

Other council members noted the city employee health insurance cost estimates for next year are not known and will arrive in October.  There also needs to be more discussion on police overtime versus adding staff and which is more cost effective.  The police chief is suggesting adding a community service officer, for instance, to free up licensed sworn peace officers time.  A new parks manager could also take some of the load off the community development director so he can increase business retention and recruitment outreach.

North Branch has a levy for the year we are in of $6,631,200.  

This was $6,124,309 in 2025.  

If the preliminary nine percent additional holds, it will mean collecting $7, 520,983 in 2027.

The financial impacts on specific properties (residential, commercial) were not presented at the meeting when the levy was acted on.  

The Minnesota property tax is dependent on parcel valuations, in addition to what local governments deem is necessary to support their budget.  Valuations are established through a process handled by the county assessor and based on actual comparable real estate market data.  If you have concerns about your property valuation contact the county assessor.

Plus, the citywide estimated market valuation— combining all taxable parcels has an impact on formulas for a levy for economic development for example.  In Minnesota the levy for EDA staff and activities can be no more than .01813 percent of the jurisdiction’s estimated market value.

The North Branch public hearing for the levy for 2027 is scheduled for December 9 at 6 p.m.

In other business, the Northwest Old Town section is entering final design.  Council approved WSB to draw up plans for a stripped down version of the earlier improvements proposed and go for bids on an estimated $2.1 million project.  The work at this price will not need to be assessed to property owners in Old Town.

The engineering firm will schedule one more neighborhood meeting as plans come together, council was told.  The project website will be maintained.  The bidding can be underway as soon as winter and the work could be commencing next spring.

A citizen had a concern about a data center rumor and was advised that the North Branch city planning commission is in the process of drafting ordinance language for “high utility user” facilities.  The rules being put together would include data centers, crypto currency mining, A-I hubs, hydrogen production and more.  

Planner Ryan Saltis is working with planning commissioners.  The review is at a pretty high level at this time, and the planning commission asked staff to look into local factors like availability of water and the unique North Branch area electric system, future decommissioning needs, building screening, who does monitoring, financial assurance, and a host of issues.  

The city council has placed a six month moratorium on high utility user applications, starting July 22.  Citizens are reminded to check for hearings and other public meetings if they seek input on high utility user projects.

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