Minnesota counties unite to stop federal costs from hitting your property tax bill

On Wednesday, March 4, over 250 county commissioners and officials from nearly every Minnesota county gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul as part of “County Day at the Capitol,” organized by the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). 

Officials met with state legislators, including key committee chairs and caucus leaders, to advocate for its 2026 Legislative Priorities, which include issues surrounding:

• Modernize outdated human services technology systems (including SSIS and MAXIS) through immediate fixes and long-term replacement plans to improve efficiency, reduce errors and fraud, support county staff, and prevent rising property tax pressures.

• Prevent federal SNAP and Medicaid cost shifts to counties by ensuring the state covers new administrative and benefit costs tied to the 2025 federal reconciliation bill, avoiding significant property tax increases and addressing outdated eligibility systems.

 • Fully fund and support implementation of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act by centralizing audits, strengthening workforce capacity, sustaining prevention funding, and ensuring counties are prepared for consistent statewide implementation by 2027.

“County leaders are public servants responsible for carrying out programs required by state and federal governments. We came together to advance shared priorities on behalf of residents in all 87 Minnesota counties, united across regions and political perspectives,” said Pope County Commissioner Larry Lindor, president of the Association of Minnesota Counties.

“Counties are calling for urgent action to modernize the state’s outdated human services technology systems, address significant federal cost shifts in SNAP and Medicaid, and ensure successful implementation of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act,” said Scott County Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke, 1st Vice President of the Association of Minnesota Counties. 

“Without meaningful state partnership and investment, these pressures will fall directly on local property taxpayers. A strong state–county partnership is essential to modernizing systems, supporting our workforce, and delivering effective services that improve outcomes for Minnesota families.”

AMC is a voluntary statewide organization of Minnesota’s 87 counties that helps provide effective county governance to the people of Minnesota. Through intergovernmental relations, communications and education, AMC seeks to improve the operation of Minnesota’s county governments and the services that counties provide to their citizens.