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Committee reviews 2026 preliminary budget packets, levy and attachments; staff to present draft to county board
Summary
Finance staff reviewed the 2026 preliminary budget materials (attachments 8a–8c), explained new packet structure used with Tyler, and highlighted a proposed levy increase of roughly $510,000 over 2025; the committee asked staff to present the package to the county board and requested feedback from supervisors by the following Tuesday.
Polk County finance staff walked committee members through the 2026 preliminary budget materials and new attachments that explain how the proposed levy and departmental budgets were compiled. Staff stressed that the materials include three reconciliation views — a department-level levy worksheet (attachment 8a), a fund-distribution accounting sheet (8b), and a detailed budget workbook (8c) used both to verify data entry into Tyler and to present revenue-expenditure detail.
Highlights staff called out: the draft levy shown in the packet increases from $10,341,005 in 2025 to a proposed $10,851,250 in 2026 — a difference of about $510,000. Staff said some numbers remain estimates until the state releases final shared-revenue and levy-limit worksheets. The packet also reflected a projected $2,000,000 in intergovernmental/state shared road revenue factored into the totals.
On personnel and program items, staff told the committee the preliminary budget assumes one step increases on the wage scale (no cost-of-living adjustment included), adds a radio-tower technician position and operations funding, includes modest departmental restructuring, and funds cybersecurity enhancements. Staff said they are aiming to rely on Tyler to reduce manual workbook reconciliation in future budget cycles.
Committee members asked about the methodology for sales-tax and other revenue projections and whether the radio-tower tech should be contracted short term. Staff and the treasurer said the process is conservative and based on historical data; the committee asked for any final adjustments to be submitted by the next Tuesday so departments and staff can reconcile numbers before the Oct. 20 budget meeting.
Action: the committee agreed to present the package to the full county board and asked supervisors to provide feedback promptly so staff can finalize levy calculations and incorporate any changes before formal budget adoption.
