**How to Place an Obituary in the Pioneer Press**

If you need to place an obituary in the Pioneer Press, please follow the instructions below to ensure a smooth and timely submission.

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### Submission Process

**Email Your Obituary**
Send the following information to: [email protected].
*Note: Online submission through our website is not available at this time.*

**Contact Information:**
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– Alternate phone number (if any)

**Obituary Specification:**
– Name of the deceased
– Complete obituary text
– Photo (JPEG or PDF preferred; TIF and other files accepted; we will contact you if there are issues)
– Requested publication run dates
– *Discounts are available for running an obituary more than one day, but must be scheduled at the time of the first run date.*
– *If using a photo, it must be included on both days to receive the multi-day discount.*

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### Important Policies

**Verification of Death**
To publish an obituary, the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling arrangements are required.
– We must contact the funeral home/cremation society during business hours to verify the death.
– If the body was donated for research (e.g., the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program), provide their phone number.
– A death certificate may also be used for verification (only one method is necessary).
– Allow for extra time to contact organizations with limited weekend hours.

**Guestbooks and External Links**
– References to other media sources or obituaries placed elsewhere are not permitted.
– You may include the funeral home’s website or a family contact email instead.
– For questions, please contact us.

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### Proof and Publication

– After submitting, you will receive a proof via fax or email before publication.
– The proof includes price and scheduled publication dates.
– Review the proof carefully and notify us of any changes before the notice is published.
– The Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors reported after final proofing.

**Online Obituary Changes**
For edits to online obituaries, contact the obituary desk directly.

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### Payment Information

– **Pre-payment is required** prior to publication and proof approval.
– Call 651-228-5263 with payment information after you approve the proof.

**Accepted Payment Methods:**
– Credit Card: Payment by phone only (PCI regulations)
– EFT: Check by phone (routing and account number needed)

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### Obituary Rates

– **Minimum charge:** $162 for the first 12 lines
– **Each additional line:** $12
– Notices under 12 lines are charged the minimum.
– Obituaries over 40 lines receive a 7.5% per-line discount.
– Second run date: 20% discount on both placements (photo must be included both days).
– Place three obituaries and the third placement is free.
– **Photo charge:** $125 per day per photo
– *Example: 2 photos published over 2 days = 4 photo charges = $500.*

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### Deadlines

To ensure publication on your requested date, please follow deadline instructions:

– **Office Hours:** Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed weekends & holidays)

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### Memoriam Notices

Memoriam submissions (remembrances, not obituaries) have different rates and procedures.

– Email: [email protected]
– Phone: 651-228-5280
– Get more information by calling or emailing.

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## Minnesota Property Taxes: 2026 Outlook

Property taxes across Minnesota could increase by up to $1 billion next year, following levy increases approved by counties, cities, school boards, and other taxing districts for 2025. These increases, which are payable in 2026, reflect ongoing inflation and operational cost pressures, according to local government groups.

The state Department of Revenue reports that levies could total up to $14.6 billion in 2026—a 6.9% jump from 2025. Typically, the final number is lower than this preliminary maximum, as governments refine their budgets and hold required public hearings before setting final levies by December 29.

**How Property Taxes Are Finalized:**
– Local governments estimate taxes and mail “truth-in-taxation” notices in November.
– Public input meetings are held before final decisions.
– To find public hearing dates in your county, visit your county’s website.

In 2025, Minnesota property taxes totaled roughly $13.7 billion. In 2020, they were $10.9 billion, showing steady growth over the decade.

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### Year-by-Year Statewide Property Tax Increases

– **2025:** 5.6% ($718.6 million)
– **2024:** 6.4% ($775 million)
– **2023:** 5.4% ($626 million)
– **2022:** 3.9% ($431 million)
– **2021:** 2.1% ($226 million)
– **2020:** 4.6% ($501 million)

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### Challenges Driving Higher Levies

Rising costs are driven by:
– Staff salaries and benefits
– Infrastructure and capital expenses
– Increased energy prices
– Mandates from state and federal governments

Recent changes at the federal level, especially Medicaid and SNAP program requirements, have led to increased administrative costs for counties.

Matt Hilgart, lobbyist for the Association of Minnesota Counties, notes:
“New mandates coupled with reductions in reimbursements create situations where we need to levy more to hire staff for state or federal requirements.”

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### Ramsey County’s Levy Increases

– Approved a 9.75% ($38.6 million) levy increase for 2026.
– Major drivers: unfunded mandates, employee compensation, and resources for core services.
– About 46% of Ramsey County’s budget is funded by property taxes.
– Levy increases in prior years: 4.75% (2025), 6.8% (2024), and 4.5% (2023).

Statewide, counties set an average maximum increase of 8.1%—higher than the 5–6% average of recent years. Cities are projecting an average maximum of 8.7%, with schools at 5.8%.

**Note:** A levy increase is not always a direct property tax increase for individuals. New development in a community can offset overall tax impacts. However, Ramsey County has limited opportunities for tax base growth as the state’s smallest county, and higher social service costs add to their challenges.

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### Final Tax Amounts

The highest projected increases may not hold—final increases are often lower. For example:
– The 2025 maximum increase was projected as $781.6 million (6.1%), but finalized at $718.6 million (5.6%).
– The 2024 maximum projection was $882.1 million (7.3%), finalized at $775 million (6%).

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### School District Concerns

School districts are facing uncertainty with federal funding and rising reliance on local levies. Kirk Schneidawind, executive director of the Minnesota School Boards Association, explains:
“Increases from the state have not kept up with inflation. To continue programs, we have to generate new revenue.”

The 2023 state education bill included up to a 3% increase for inflation, but longer-term solutions are needed.

**St. Paul Public Schools**
Voters approved a levy referendum in November, increasing general revenue by $1,037 per pupil for 10 years, which should bring in about $37.2 million for the district.

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**Learn More**
For more information on preliminary property tax levies, visit the Minnesota Department of Revenue: [revenue.state.mn.us/preliminary-property-tax-levies](https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/preliminary-property-tax-levies)

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**Contact Information**
– Obituary desk: 651-228-5263
– Memoriam inquiries: 651-228-5280

Please refer to specific instructions above for email addresses and further details.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/15/minnesota-property-taxes-statewide-may-go-up-close-to-1-billion-next-year/