[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6483008,"mediaKeyId","5823897-6765d489823ea09c354ab06ba565d60d","parentId",5823897,"title","Koochiching County sets preliminary 2026 levy at 8.99% and schedules Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing","audioSeconds",340,"startMs",370000,"endMs",710000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823897-6765d489823ea09c354ab06ba565d60d&start=370&end=710","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823897-6765d489823ea09c354ab06ba565d60d/thumbnail_370000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483008/Minnesota/Koochiching-County-sets-preliminary-2026-levy-at-899-and-schedules-TruthinTaxation-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483008-f6465b9cff14e6b6efbd19cec42cb96b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142040&Signature=NagmpEdktTnajfZE4upZTHmOKMPon~nNfF7krc-HlTbryN7SCXoXrqob27LvE4Gi~9vP4~U35oxr1Yrk8ACvelpPvLpt6Yu-78~PB~KfJlUat6zuyZmyFOXMyciOdzpUU8lqGQh~NKjx~vahT9Vs9Pf66BxhTb12IuB4-vSZgY-1mEjvc9YLk1fbUJv30Dh~rwxU~tJsmWqnUjXOdbx5paut-LbVhz2AJgMcMKxTPOhQzPDQnDms8k-qphzSCMREQtG03uIGhqNjkQuio903juFXhBK7usaruwfufJb9sdi5S4Qd6kDCumS1P8Aj6FaaLbPfS7OHg5UjVufXDr3bxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Koochiching County","date","2025-09-24T12:10:23.003Z","article","KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn. — The Koochiching County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a preliminary gross tax levy for 2026 that is 8.99% higher than the 2025 levy and set a Truth‑in‑Taxation meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in the county’s historic third‑floor courtroom.

County administrator Adam (staff member) told commissioners that preliminary budget submissions produced a near‑14% gap earlier in the process, and more recent budget work narrowed that to 8.99%. Adam said, “And, right now, we're looking at, an 8.99% levy increase based on how the budget sits.”

Under the board’s action, the proposed general revenue levy is $2,678,849 — an increase of $220,579 — and the public health and human services levy is proposed at $2,245,996 — an increase of $476,965. Highway, environmental services and the jail‑bond levies remain at their 2025 levels, according to the administration presentation. The total levy amount was reported in the board packet as $8,347,552 (rounded as presented).

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the increase responds largely to higher public health and human services costs and to Department and grant funding uncertainties. Commissioners noted the county will continue budget reviews in the coming months and may hold workshops to consider options for 2027 budgeting and to scrutinize mandated and nonmandated costs.

What the board did: The board voted to set the preliminary levy at 8.99% and to publish and hold the Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing on Dec. 9, 2025. No final levy or budget adoption occurred; state law requires the public hearing before final adoption.

Board comment and next steps: Several commissioners praised staff for reducing the initial increase from double digits and said they expect continued work to narrow the levy before final adoption. The Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing will be the formal forum for public comment before the board adopts the final levy.

For readers: The levy approved on Sept. 23 is a preliminary figure. The board must follow state notice requirements and adopt a final levy later in the year after the public hearing. The administration will return with refined budget numbers and additional proposals at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Koochiching County Board 092325","oneSentenceSummary","The Koochiching County Board approved an 8.99% preliminary levy increase for 2026 and scheduled a Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing for Dec. 9, 2025; the board allocated most of the increase to public health and general revenue.","taxTitle","Koochiching, Minnesota","taxId",71435,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6483003,"County approves upgrades to 911 recording system, adds interim hardware and signs reimbursement JPA",370,2180000,2550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823897-6765d489823ea09c354ab06ba565d60d&start=2180&end=2550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823897-6765d489823ea09c354ab06ba565d60d/thumbnail_2180000.jpg","/articles/6483003/Minnesota/County-approves-upgrades-to-911-recording-system-adds-interim-hardware-and-signs-reimbursement-JPA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483003-9212c9243f60c3b7b68f0cd1e13ad7e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142040&Signature=fbR6OHUR5zM-qfBbSWtmyUt1rkPYyA1uWseCMAHlGGnmi8whlONzKSdzxriC-JWX9JaPEJYHaFczy-7hucWSMl~d1wv9DCDKeI9R4rFqc6EBwYNItCEZZlnpwavy2MPLqlGOeELtqLqBy6ysOM1oJ~QX8IkMG5cncNxpzhfTt6FG5n2~3mG5gSVR2pVEozR99Kg3GPpkg6EZefalv2f3fW-A8ufPdd4e10l6E~b2XP17XzTiDXpu1rh5aTnyPuHczs-tnE592Yc~6NI~m2pMHHSbQqScitRb1w73XcAbl-c42DKudjT-I0TOkVSMf9z~3Cfh7WBdrYrHZnkWLcqkKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn. — The Koochiching County Board on Sept. 23 approved a package of changes and purchases intended to modernize the county’s 911 dispatch logging and call‑handling equipment.

Dispatch leadership recommended the county buy a MacTec recording/logger system after reviewing competitive quotes. The MacTec quote, as presented, was $24,068; an alternate (Blue Spirit/Eventide) quote was higher after clarification about required channel recording. The 911 manager asked the board to move the purchase from the 2026 capital plan into 2025 to match other hardware work on the dispatch/dispatcher center.

The board also approved a change order to add bridging hardware (referred to in meeting materials as a Vesta change order) that will link the old law‑enforcement server room to new systems in the new law‑enforcement center. Staff explained moving all equipment to the new server room risked up to a week of downtime; the bridging approach reduces operational risk.

Separately, the county signed a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the state emergency communications network so the county can be reimbursed for vendor work replacing aging network circuits. County staff said the state will reimburse eligible PSAP costs; the JPA indicates the county may be reimbursed through the ECN process for qualifying expenses (the meeting discussion referenced a reimbursement limit in the JPA language as reported to the board; board staff expect to receive vendor quotes and submit for reimbursement).

Why it matters: The county’s emergency communications center (PSAP) is required to record all radio and telephone traffic and to maintain continuous call‑handling service. Staff told the board the logger replacement and interim hardware will keep the PSAP compliant and enable planned call‑handling hardware refresh work.

Board action: The board voted to purchase the MacTec logger (funding from the county’s E911 special revenue fund), approve the bridging hardware change order, and execute the JPA that enables state reimbursement of PSAP upgrade costs. Staff estimated the MacTec equipment could be installed and operational within 4–6 weeks after order and mid‑November as an optimistic deployment target.

Follow up: Staff will place the equipment order, coordinate vendor scheduling and installation, and file reimbursement requests under the JPA once vendor invoices are available.","Koochiching County authorized purchase of a new radio/phone logger, approved a change order to bridge new and old dispatch hardware, and signed a joint powers agreement to secure state reimbursement for network upgrades affecting the PSAP.","actionData","errors"]

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Koochiching County sets preliminary 2026 levy at 8.99% and schedules Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing

County approves upgrades to 911 recording system, adds interim hardware and signs reimbursement JPA