Pine County board sets preliminary 2026 levy after budget cuts and staff restructuring

The Pine County Board of Commissioners moved to set a preliminary 2026 levy after county administration presented a narrowed budget gap and recommended a mix of limited levy increases, one‑time draws from 2025 savings and targeted departmental adjustments. Kelly Schroeder, county auditor‑treasurer and administrator, told the board that earlier budget work had shown a roughly $2.4 million shortfall but ongoing review and departmental changes had reduced the gap to about $1.3 million. Schroeder recommended a package that uses an identified $350,000 of one‑time 2025 savings, modest increases to certain user fees, and a preliminary levy to cover the remainder. Key points and proposal - The proposed 2026 levy as moved by the board was approximately $23,379,287 (a roughly 2.6% overall increase from the previous levy figure as discussed in the session). The board voted on that preliminary levy at the meeting. - Schroeder proposed a targeted 1.5 percentage‑point levy increase to Health and Human Services to help close a $523,000 deficit in that program; that department had been the focus of several recent personnel changes. - To reduce recurring budget pressure, Schroeder recommended a modest increase in a dedicated solid‑waste fee on improved taxable parcels from $10 to $12, which would yield about $40,000 annually and better align users with the recycling program cost. - She also proposed applying $350,000 of one‑time 2025 revenues/savings to the 2026 budget to reduce reliance on a permanent levy increase. Why it matters: the board must adopt a preliminary levy by Sept. 30. The preliminary figure caps the maximum the county can levy in December; the final levy may be equal or lower but cannot be higher. Board debate and next steps Commissioners debated how much of the shortfall to cover with levy increases versus additional department reductions. Several commissioners urged further cuts to ongoing personnel costs rather than relying on reserves or ongoing levies. Others said HHS needs relief to meet rising service demands and that continuing to shift costs to staffing reductions would reduce capacity. Schroeder said final decisions remain possible through November and that the board will hold additional budget work sessions; the county will host a Truth-in-Taxation public hearing in December before adopting the final levy on Dec. 16. Ending: The board set the preliminary levy figure and directed staff to pursue additional departmental savings and to refine the 2026 budget for final adoption in December.