Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Burnsville City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 2

Catarina “Cati” GómezVice chair of Burnsville's Parks and Natural Resources Commission and a perinatal health policy associate. She is an officer of the North River Hills Neighborhood Organization.6sourced
Chris JohnSenior cost accountant and consultant who chaired Burnsville's Economic Development and Planning commissions. He also served on the ISD 191 Finance Advisory Committee.6sourced
Dan KealeyIncumbentCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20269sourced
Vince WorkmanIncumbentCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20268sourced

Voters are choosing two City Council members from four candidates, each for a four-year term.

3 notes on these statements

Eight candidates ran in the August 11 primary and four advanced: Vince Workman, Dan Kealey, Catarina “Cati” Gómez and Chris John. Sun ThisWeek · Aug 12, 2026

Elizabeth Kautz, Dan Gustafson and Cara Schulz are not on this ballot; their terms expire December 31, 2028. City of Burnsville

Burnsville's council minutes name how each member voted on roll calls, so the votes listed here cite the minutes. Burnsville City Council minutes, Nov 25, 2025 · Nov 25, 2025

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dan GustafsonCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20285sourced Elizabeth KautzMayor; term expires December 31, 20286sourced Cara SchulzCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20287sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decides2027 budget and property tax levy, Freeway Landfill and Dump, Burnsville Center redevelopment Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Early direct balloting begins

Fri, Oct 16, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

2027 budget and property tax levy

Where it standsOn Sept. 22 the council voted 4-1 to certify a proposed 2027 levy 7.69% higher than 2026; the final budget and levy vote is scheduled for Dec. 8.

What's on the tableWhether to lower the levy before the final vote and how to hold down future increases.

A 7.69% increase would raise city taxes by $180 on a median-value home of $365,800, according to the city. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 23, 2026
City administrators project 7.5% annual increases through 2031 to maintain current services and address long-term needs. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 23, 2026
Public safety takes 60% of the proposed 2027 general fund budget, 37% for police and 23% for fire-EMS, according to the city. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 23, 2026

Freeway Landfill and Dump

Where it standsThe council approved Big Hits at the Gateway on the former Freeway Dump 3-2 on Nov. 25, 2025, with conditions placing final authority with the MPCA.

What's on the tableHow the city handles the development agreement and any future requests on the Freeway sites while the MPCA cleanup dispute continues.

City approval is conditioned on approval by the MPCA and other agencies, and the owner must verify that adverse impacts to the drinking water supply will not occur. Sun ThisWeek · Dec 2, 2025
The MPCA says the owner's remediation plan for the sports complex is insufficient to safeguard drinking water supplies for Burnsville and Savage. Sun ThisWeek · Dec 2, 2025
At the time of the vote the MPCA had a lawsuit pending against the owners of the Freeway Dump and the Freeway Landfill. Sun ThisWeek · Dec 2, 2025

Burnsville Center redevelopment

Where it standsThe city has rezoned the area for mixed use and offered redevelopment assistance, but the mall remains mostly empty.

What's on the tableWhat role the city plays, through incentives, planning or other tools, in redeveloping the mall area.

The Burnsville Center Village Redevelopment Vision sets goals for turning the retail area north and south of County Road 42 into a large mixed-use complex. City of Burnsville
Workman said the city has changed zoning in the area to mixed use and provided redevelopment assistance, and that multiple mall ownership groups have made redevelopment challenging. Sun ThisWeek · Oct 1, 2026
Kealey said he supported a county economic development grant the city has earmarked for an Asian-themed food hall and market that have yet to open. Sun ThisWeek · Oct 1, 2026

Police City Hall and franchise fees

Where it standsThe city is funding its Police City Hall expansion and renovation with higher utility franchise fees rather than property taxes.

What's on the tableHow the city pays for upcoming projects such as the Fire Station 2 replacement and a public works expansion.

On January 21, 2025, the City Council amended the franchise fee ordinance to increase franchise fees to fund the police city hall project. City of Burnsville
The residential franchise fee is $8 per month on both gas and electric bills. City of Burnsville
The council chose utility fees over property taxes to fund the projects, and the fees include tax-exempt properties. Sun ThisWeek · Dec 18, 2024
Replacement of Fire Station 2 and a public works expansion are to follow the Police City Hall project in subsequent years. Sun ThisWeek · Oct 1, 2026

License plate readers

Where it standsBurnsville informally endorsed Flock license plate readers in 2025, then backed away in mid-summer 2026 before any contract.

What's on the tableWhether the city adopts rules on automated license plate readers or revisits their use.

At a June 2025 work session the council endorsed paying a $65,000 subscription fee for 20 fixed, solar-powered Flock cameras. Sun ThisWeek · Aug 27, 2026
The city decided in mid-summer 2026 to back away from Flock, saying the company did not provide answers to follow-up questions. Sun ThisWeek · Aug 27, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should the council vote on the proposed 7.69% increase in the 2027 property tax levy?
2. How should Burnsville handle development proposals on the former Freeway landfill sites?
3. What role should the city play in redeveloping Burnsville Center?
4. How should Burnsville pay for major city building projects?
5. Should Burnsville use automated license plate reader cameras?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

In-person absentee voting begins at City HallCity of BurnsvilleSep 18, 2026
Early direct balloting beginsCity of BurnsvilleOct 16, 2026
Election DayCity of BurnsvilleNov 3, 2026
Final 2027 budget and levy voteSun ThisWeek · Sep 23, 2026Dec 8, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Dan Gustafson, Elizabeth Kautz, Cara Schulz2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The council has a mayor and four council members, all elected at large to four-year terms. City of Burnsville meeting portal
Two council members are elected every two years, and the mayor is elected every four years. City of Burnsville meeting portal
Burnsville operates under the Statutory Plan B council-manager form of government. City of Burnsville

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