Stevens County staff present 2026 budget review; board signals a preliminary levy around 4.95%
December 04, 2025 | Stevens County, Minnesota
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Stevens County staff presented a detailed review of the 2026 budget and preliminary levy numbers, outlining revenue trends, investment income and proposed appropriations for county programs.
Finance staff (Speaker 5) told commissioners that property-tax totals for the current payable year were $19,568,053 for real estate, mobile homes and transmission lines and that total collections including assessed items came to $21,208,670; unpaid amounts after the November settlement were listed at $375,153.68. Staff also noted rising use of ACH for tax payments ($2,342,342 in ACH receipts reported) and higher credit-card transaction volumes. The county reported year-to-date investment interest and earnings contributing meaningfully to fund balances.
The budget presentation covered the three primary levy funds (general fund/fund 1, road-and-bridge/fund 3, and fund 5) and highlighted grant opportunities (including a carbon-reduction federal program and a PLSS survey grant). Staff proposed an adjustment to the Rainbow Rider appropriation that would lower the county's projected share; commissioners discussed whether to reduce the projected local appropriation and agreed to lower the line to $13,013.33 (amount transcribed as $13.01 33 in packet). The presenter said adjustments and spend-down practices are tools the board has used to manage levy pressure.
Board members discussed long-term pressures on human-services spending and the variable nature of state and federal aid. Staff emphasized that the levy ask remains a relatively small portion of the budget overall but that some funds, particularly road-and-bridge projects, depend heavily on state and federal aid timing. After discussion, the board indicated a preliminary levy setting around 4.95% and asked staff to present follow-up data at the public hearing and the next meeting.
The board did not record a roll-call vote on the levy during the meeting transcript; commissioners asked staff to finalize materials for the upcoming public budget session (referred to as TNT in the meeting documents).
Finance staff (Speaker 5) told commissioners that property-tax totals for the current payable year were $19,568,053 for real estate, mobile homes and transmission lines and that total collections including assessed items came to $21,208,670; unpaid amounts after the November settlement were listed at $375,153.68. Staff also noted rising use of ACH for tax payments ($2,342,342 in ACH receipts reported) and higher credit-card transaction volumes. The county reported year-to-date investment interest and earnings contributing meaningfully to fund balances.
The budget presentation covered the three primary levy funds (general fund/fund 1, road-and-bridge/fund 3, and fund 5) and highlighted grant opportunities (including a carbon-reduction federal program and a PLSS survey grant). Staff proposed an adjustment to the Rainbow Rider appropriation that would lower the county's projected share; commissioners discussed whether to reduce the projected local appropriation and agreed to lower the line to $13,013.33 (amount transcribed as $13.01 33 in packet). The presenter said adjustments and spend-down practices are tools the board has used to manage levy pressure.
Board members discussed long-term pressures on human-services spending and the variable nature of state and federal aid. Staff emphasized that the levy ask remains a relatively small portion of the budget overall but that some funds, particularly road-and-bridge projects, depend heavily on state and federal aid timing. After discussion, the board indicated a preliminary levy setting around 4.95% and asked staff to present follow-up data at the public hearing and the next meeting.
The board did not record a roll-call vote on the levy during the meeting transcript; commissioners asked staff to finalize materials for the upcoming public budget session (referred to as TNT in the meeting documents).
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