Hennepin keeps tax levy flat; Ramsey raises it 2.7%

Hennepin and Ramsey County commissioners have voted on their proposed property taxes for the 2011 budget year.

The Hennepin County board has voted to keep the county's property tax levy flat at $676 million for the coming year. It had previously been considering a 1 percent tax hike.

In St. Paul, though, commissioners approved a slight tax increase. The Ramsey County Board voted unanimously to send out a notice for a $267 million tax, including the suburban library levy. That's 2.7 percent more than last year.

Both votes represent maximum levy options, and either of the state's most populous counties can still trim taxes between now and December when their final budgets are adopted. They'll also hold Truth in Taxation hearings this fall before adopting the levies.