ROCHESTER, Minn. -- The Rochester City Council approved a preliminary property tax levy Monday for 2026 that would increase by 5.9 percent, moving the city closer to finalizing its budget for the year.

The council voted 5-2 on the preliminary levy of $118,284,623 during their recent meeting. The levy supports an overall operating and capital budget of $663,901,470, which includes Rochester Public Utilities.

Minnesota law requires local governments to adopt a preliminary property tax levy by September 30. The council also set December 1, 2025, as the date for a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget, including both operating expenses and capital improvements.

City Council President Randy Schubring highlighted that the 5.9 percent increase represents a significant reduction from last

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