Minot’s proposed 2027 budget would raise taxes, utility charges

Minot City Council members are weighing a proposed 2027 budget of nearly $218 million that would raise property-tax collections and several utility-related charges while reducing the city’s use of general-fund cash reserves.

Under City Manager Tom Joyce’s proposal, the estimated annual property-tax burden on a median Minot home would increase by about $234. The figure is an estimate for a home with a median assessment, not a uniform increase for every property owner.

Taxes and utility charges would rise

The draft budget calls for property-tax collections of about $26.7 million, up from approximately $20.1 million in the 2026 budget. The increase would replace some of the reserve funding used in recent years for operating costs, including public-safety and street-department operations.

The proposal also includes higher service charges. The monthly garbage fee for the first cart would increase by $1, with the total monthly cost ranging from $16 to $21 depending on cart size. A recycling cart would increase by 40 cents to $3 per month. Water and sewer rates also would increase for all categories of users under the draft plan.

Those are proposed figures. The City Council has not adopted the 2027 budget, and tax rates and utility charges could change during the review process.

Staffing and street maintenance remain pressure points

Twelve authorized positions would remain unfunded across city departments under the proposal. The list includes three police positions and a mobility manager for Minot City Transit, along with other positions identified in the budget materials.

The proposed police budget would still increase by 11.4%, in large part because the city has filled vacant police positions during the past year. The proposal also removes $5 million that had previously been anticipated for a police-station remodeling project. That is a change in proposed funding, not the cancellation of a fully approved or completed project.

Street-maintenance funding would be reduced in the current draft from a previously proposed $10 million to about $9.1 million. That change describes the amount proposed for the department; it should not be read as a completed service cut.

Major infrastructure work remains funded

The budget would continue funding several large construction and replacement projects. They include about $12 million for reconstruction of Third Street East and Central Avenue, $7.46 million for rehabilitation of the 16th Street Southwest interchange and $7.8 million for water-main replacement.

The mix of higher recurring revenue, lower reserve use, constrained staffing and continued infrastructure spending leaves the council weighing how much to collect from property owners and utility customers while maintaining city services.

Residents could see higher taxes and utility-related charges if the proposal moves forward, while some positions and previously anticipated projects remain outside the recommended funding plan.

What happens next

The council is scheduled to consider preliminary budget action by Aug. 3, 2026. The city’s public budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8, and a final budget is due to Ward County in October.

Until those steps are completed, the 2027 plan remains preliminary. Revised budget documents, council discussions and any changes to taxes, fees, staffing or projects will determine what Minot residents ultimately pay and which services receive funding.

Sources

• Minot Daily News budget report
• City of Minot budget recommendations