The Dunn County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s preliminary 2026 budget, with several changes to department budgets and transfers, after a plenary budget discussion.

County finance officer Sally (auditor) told commissioners that 2024 figures and the year‑to‑date 2025 estimates were used to set the 2026 numbers, and she cited volatility in gross production tax receipts as the principal revenue uncertainty. The county’s July gross production tax payment was reported at $2,526,878 and the auditor said the county is near its budget target for 2025 but projected more cautious revenue for 2026.

Commissioners and staff adjusted specific line items during the meeting: custodian budget corrected (from $11,000 to $25,000), merit added to commissioner wages, transfers into the weed department increased, and social services indirect costs reclassified to be billed directly to that department. Sally said the capital projects fund could receive an estimated $10,000,000 in federal mineral royalty receipts next year but noted that road-project estimates still require work before final allocations.

After discussion about staffing, elected-official pay proposals and department requests, Commissioner Pelton moved to approve the preliminary budget with the stated changes; Commissioner Olson seconded. The board approved the preliminary document on a roll call vote.

Sally will post the preliminary budget on the county auditor’s web page as required. The board noted that by law the preliminary total cannot be increased after posting; it may be reduced or reallocated between departments before the final hearing (the auditor cited the statutory preliminary deadline of August 10 and a final hearing window in October).

The motion carried on a roll call vote; commissioners directed staff to bring wage questions and remaining departmental clarifications to upcoming meetings before the final budget adoption.