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Stearns County previews 2026 budget: levy rise trimmed to 5.2% after cuts, staffing adjustments planned
Summary
After earlier proposals above 14%, county staff and the board trimmed the 2026 levy increase to 5.2% through cuts, fund shifts and position changes. The proposal includes public safety additions partially grant-funded, a sanitarian paid from fee revenue, and a parks maintenance hire starting mid‑year.
County administrators told commissioners the preliminary 2026 budget has been reduced from an initial proposal above 14% to a 5.2% levy increase through a mix of spending cuts, revenue updates and shifting one highway project from levy to fund balance.
Jill (assistant county administrator) and Sarah Uch, finance director, reviewed the changes that produced the reduction. Among the actions were dropping a previously planned $1.7 million capital-item levy from the levy package, moving a highway construction project from the levy to fund balance after reviewing highway reserves, and recognizing additional state and federal grant revenue as departments finalized allocations.
Staff said the levy change still yields a small net reduction in the county tax rate (staff projected about a 0.5% tax-rate decrease assuming valuations hold), even though household tax bills can change for other reasons such as city levies, school referendums and valuation increases.
On personnel, the county adjusted several requests: - A fraud investigator position originally proposed at 0.5 FTE was moved to 1.0 FTE; the position is partially funded by a state fraud grant and will spend half time on fraud work and half time on detective/casework for the sheriff’s office. - Parks will gain a maintenance worker; staff delayed the start to July 1 to reduce the 2026 levy impact and indicated the county will explore possible funding from the Regional Railroad Authority for trail-related work. - Environmental Services will add a sanitarian to handle increased food-service licensing and plan reviews; staff said this hire would be funded primarily by the new fee revenue rather than levy dollars.
Staff also reported eliminations of vacant positions as part of roster reductions, including the county surveyor (vacant since July 2023), an administration public service representative, three part‑time sheriff positions (to offset cost of two new deputies), and IT intern roles that are funded elsewhere.
The administration left a $1 million contingency in the general fund and noted ongoing discussions about service‑delivery efficiencies, including front‑desk coverage and a proposed ‘‘floater’’ approach for some public‑facing tasks. Commissioners asked staff to keep refining positions and to return with additional detail on the fiscal impact of proposed hires.
