Hennepin County's share of your property tax bill is set to rise in 2027, and federal changes are about to make it harder for some neighbors to keep their health coverage. Those were the 2 main points District 5 Commissioner Debbie Goettel, who represents Bloomington on the County Board, brought to the City Council on Oct. 26 in her annual update. She also said the county's funding for HCMC still isn't settled.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNThe council opens item 2.2, the update from Hennepin County Commissioner Debbie Goettel.10/26
Here's the background. On Sept. 29, the County Board approved a maximum levy for 2027 of $1.219 billion, which is $91.8 million or 8.15% more than this year. The maximum is a ceiling. The board can lower the levy when it adopts the final budget in December, but it can't raise it. Meanwhile, from September through November, the board has been holding hearings on the budget one department at a time.
Goettel told the council not to expect a cut from that ceiling. She said the board is likely to stay at 8.15%, on a total operating and capital budget of about $2.72 billion. That's slightly smaller than this year's budget. The tax bill goes up while spending goes down, and Goettel tied that to federal cuts that are pushing costs back onto the county.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNGoettel walks the council through the county's 2027 budget and says the board will likely hold at an 8.15% levy increase.10/26
The Medicaid news came out when Council Member Nelson asked about it. Goettel said that under the new work requirements, recipients will have to re-enroll every 6 months, and the county expects about 6,000 people to drop off its rolls. The state says the federal rules take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Adults ages 21 to 64 will have to show 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering, unless they qualify for an exemption. Exemptions include parents of children under 19, pregnant people, people with disabilities, American Indian and Alaska Native residents, and caregivers of people with disabilities. Statewide, about 243,000 people on Medical Assistance will face the requirements.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNIn response to a council member's question, Goettel explains the 6-month re-enrollment rule and the county's estimate of 6,000 people losing coverage.10/26
Goettel's advice for anyone on Medical Assistance who hasn't heard from the county: don't wait for a letter. Call the county and check whether the new rules apply to you.
What's next: the County Board's line-of-business budget hearings continue through November, and the board adopts the final 2027 budget and levy in December. The levy can come in below 8.15% but not above it. The county posts its hearing schedule at hennepin.us/budgets. Residents can comment at those hearings or contact Goettel's office directly. Bloomington's own city levy goes through its own separate process.
