The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners approved on April 21 action to address an administrative error that resulted in about $1.5 million more in property taxes being levied for 2026 than what was originally approved by the board in December 2025. The mistake, discovered through internal processes in late March, accounted for roughly 1% of the total levy and is estimated to impact most residential property owners by approximately $10 to $30 over the year.
The county said it regrets the error and is putting additional internal controls in place to prevent similar mistakes from happening again. Because tax statements have already been distributed and many mortgage servicers have incorporated these amounts into escrow systems, officials considered several options for correcting the issue while balancing administrative feasibility, taxpayer clarity, cost, and fairness.
During the meeting, staff presented four options: reissuing new tax statements; recalculating taxes for second-half payments; making adjustments internally with online updates; or correcting the error through next year’s levy process. After discussion, commissioners chose to correct the mistake through the 2027 levy process by placing extra funds in a secure interest-bearing account and applying them to reduce next year’s collection. This option was recommended by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
“Once this error was confirmed, our focus was on communicating promptly with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the county auditor, and the public,” said County Administrator Travis Gransee. “The board’s action ensures the situation is handled responsibly and in alignment with state guidance.”
“The board carefully evaluated the available options. We take our responsibility to taxpayers and our commitment to long-term stewardship seriously,” said Olmsted County Board Chair David Senjem.
A summary FAQ is available on Olmsted County’s website. Residents with questions about their individual situations are encouraged to contact propertyweb@olmstedcounty.gov or call 507-328-7670.
