Questions & Answers

Mendota Heights boasts low taxes, high property values and excellent city services. In 2027, taxes will still be considerably lower than surrounding cities, even after expected increases. Given current economic conditions and expected tax increases at the county and school district, the City Council and staff are working hard to ease the tax burden on our residents.

Recent tax increases are no larger than in the past. Here are the levy increases over the past 12 years:

Looking back, the largest increase was in 2019 (9.8%) and the smallest was in 2021 (4.3%, my first budget). Tax increases have ranged around 4%-7% annually, and recent increases have been in line with historic averages. About half our budget goes to public safety and about 60% of our budget is salaries and benefits. The biggest driver of tax increases is inflation. We have also invested in community priorities: natural resources, park amenities, recreation programming, and more.

We ease the property tax burden on our residents through county and state partnerships, including the two recent bonding allocations from the state – a first in Mendota Heights history. These investments benefit our residents without increasing taxes.

We just completed our preliminary budget, line by line, and many residents attended the budget worksessions or sent emails – and we still want to hear from residents! You have a direct impact on our decisions. Some recent examples of community advocacy include the Cell Phone Study, Lake Augusta Outlet Study, and a National Resources Management Plan for Valley Park. We trimmed budget items that the council felt were not necessary in 2027.

The need is clear: The facilities were always meant to be expanded and renovated, and we are facing significant space, safety, and security deficiencies. If we fail to act, we fail our staff and public, and we risk eventually losing our beloved Mendota Heights Police Department. We simply can't keep kicking the can down the road.

Leadership means doing what is right, not what is easy. We undertook this project knowing that there would be opposition, and we involved the community from the start.

We are elected to listen to the public, carefully steward taxpayer dollars, and to make difficult decisions based on facts, expert guidance and long-term value.

Over a year ago, the Council began with a thorough process: a space study, community engagement, guiding principles and expert advice from ICS Consulting. We examined every reasonable option – renovating, relocating, separating Police and City Hall, and building new. Ultimately, renovation was eliminated because it would cost approximately 78% of new construction, well above the 60%-70% threshold where municipal construction guidance favors building new.

We then weighted current needs against future needs. In December 2025, the Council voted unanimously, 5-0, to pursue a new building with future need at $33.1 million. Following additional community input and a $4 million state grant, the project was scaled back to a new building, future ready.

The anticipated costs of $1/day for 20 years (for a median value home) are conservative. These costs are expected to decrease as we work on financing.

If the project is paused, or stopped, then millions of dollars will be wasted, and we will lose the $4 million grant from the state. Likely, a future council will delay this project, costing taxpayers time and money.

We undertook this project so that future generations are not forced to solve the same problem at a greater cost. Our responsibility is to respect taxpayers and secure the future of our city for ourselves and the next generation.