Levy & Budget

2026 Final Levy

On Monday, December 15, 2025, the City Council approved the final 2026 city property tax levy of $12,860,331. This is a $562,145 (4.6%) increase from the 2025 city tax levy.

A Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing was held during the December 1 City Council meeting. Following the public hearing, the City Council approved the tax levy increase at 4.6%, resulting in a $12,860,331 City property tax levy ($562,145 higher than 2025). The City Council also approved the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) levy of $428,393 ($24,235 or 6% higher than 2025).

Most of the tax levy goes into the City’s General Fund that supports many of the basic functions of local government, including public safety, snow and ice removal, street maintenance, park maintenance, planning & zoning, and more. Minnesota cities are reliant on property taxes for funding. Buffalo frequently seeks other funding sources, including state and federal grants, to limit greater impact on local taxpayers.

2026 Budget

On Monday, December 15, the City Council also approved the 2026 annual budget, a key tool for aligning services, infrastructure planning, and long-term financial stability with long-term community goals.

Where does my tax dollar go?

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See Truth-in-Taxation 2026 Budget Presentation below for more details.