Politics
Albert Park City Council Approves Budget Levy; Property Taxes Rise January 2027
Albert Park property owners will receive updated tax notices reflecting the new levy rate beginning with the first billing cycle of 2027 following the council vote on July 7.
How we reported this
The Albert Park City Council on July 7 passed the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget that includes a 0.8 mill increase in the property tax levy to fund expanded street maintenance crews and additional paramedic shifts. The measure directly affects owners of the city's 42,000 residential parcels and will appear on statements mailed by the county assessor in December 2026.
The levy adjustment follows a six-month review of service delivery data showing average pothole repair times of 47 days and emergency medical response intervals that exceeded the 8-minute target in 12 percent of calls last year. Council records indicate the added revenue is projected to reach $3.1 million annually once fully collected.
Implementation Schedule
Collection of the higher levy begins with the January 2027 tax installment, while hiring for the six new maintenance positions and four paramedic posts is scheduled to conclude by March 2027. Equipment purchases, including two additional street sweepers, are listed for delivery in the second quarter of 2027 according to the adopted capital plan.
Residents in the North End and Riverside districts will see the first visible change when crews begin filling cracks on 18 miles of local roads listed in the public works priority map released with the budget. Paramedic units operating from the expanded Station 3 on Maple Avenue are expected to enter service in April 2027.
Effects on Household Costs and Services
For the median assessed home valued at $312,000, the levy increase adds $248 to the annual tax bill, according to figures published in the council's budget document. The same document projects that the new crews will reduce average street repair response to 21 days by the end of 2027 and cut the share of late emergency calls to under 5 percent.
City finance staff stated during the meeting that the levy will remain in place for three years before automatic sunset unless renewed by a future council vote. No other revenue measures were considered at the July 7 session.