Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) urge elected Dakota County leaders to invest in public health and social services that patients depend on. This call to action comes as county commissioners are set to take a final vote on the preliminary maximum property tax levy on September 22 as part of the 2027 budget plan.
Without the maximum tax levy increase, patients could see reductions to services at vaccination clinics, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics, home visits and infectious-disease prevention.
According to county data, Dakota County has not consistently raised its tax levy at levels comparable to other counties in the Seven-County Metro Area, which includes a 0% increase during the last two years of budget discussions.
“Commissioners are not just voting on a tax levy; they are voting on keeping resources available to protect our community”, said Katrina DeVore, Environmental Health Program Coordinator and chair at Dakota County Public Health. “This is about having the proper funding for children to get the services they need, prevention of infectious diseases and protecting our most vulnerable patients so they can remain safe and healthy in our community.”
Nurses warn that failure to properly fund county government means a lack of investment in public health and social services that will be felt by patients.
This month’s crucial tax levy vote underscores why MNA is supporting candidates who have demonstrated a willingness to listen to frontline workers and protect essential county services.
MNA Endorsed Dakota County Commissioner Candidate
MNA nurses endorsed one Dakota County Commissioner who showed unwavering support to protect public health and social services as well as nurses’ jobs. MNA nurses endorsed Jacob Borealis for Dakota County Commissioner, District 6.
To be endorsed by nurses, candidates must demonstrate commitment to MNA’s goals, which include supporting safe staffing levels in hospitals, the Minnesota Health Plan, and strengthening labor rights in addition to opposing further corporatization in healthcare, which include threats of Artificial Intelligence (AI), mergers and consolidations plus the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
- Jacob Borealis, District 6: Jacob Borealis is running for a first term to represent Dakota County. MNA endorsed Jacob Borealis for Dakota County Commissioner District 6, citing his willingness to prioritize nurses’ concerns for protecting access and funding to public health services. He has committed to supporting an increase to the county tax levy, as well as supporting MNA priorities such as safe staffing and public healthcare.
MNA nurses will continue to advocate for patients and communities who rely on public health and urgently need commissioners to protect the vital work nurses do to keep residents of Dakota County healthy.
Nurses Care, Nurses Vote
MNA endorsements follow screening sessions where nurses pressed the candidates for their commitment to key issues for nurses and patients. Following screening sessions with candidates, recommendations for endorsement were approved by the MNA Political Committee and Board of Directors, both comprised of elected nurse members.
MNA nurses will encourage fellow nurses and the public to elect endorsed candidates in 2026 through phone and text-banking, door knocking, as well as digital advertisements.
More information on the MNA endorsement process can be found at nursescarenursesvote.com.
