Carver County Water Management Organization recommends 6% levy increase for watershed projects
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
The Carver County Water Management Organization asked the county board to set a $1,079,359 preliminary levy for 2026, a 6% increase staff said would fund water-quality projects, invasive-species work and state grant matches; the board approved the recommendation.
The Carver County Water Management Organization (WMO) presented and the county board approved a preliminary 2026 levy of $1,079,359 on Sept. 2, a 6% increase from 2025 that WMO staff said will support watershed projects, education, monitoring and match required for state clean-water grants.
Paul Moline, deputy director in Public Services and the WMO presenter, said the WMO is implementing the water-management plan the board adopted in 2020 and that most levy dollars fund staff, engineering and project work. "We are implementing the water management plan that the board adopted in 2020," Moline said.
Planned projects and funding choices: the WMO recommended full funding for a $50,000 Fox Ravine phase 2 project requested by the city of Waconia and partial funding for Waconia—s stormwater reuse planning and a Watertown stormwater treatment project on Angel Avenue. Staff recommended not funding a $2 million request from Laketown Township for a sanitary system because the proposal did not qualify under the county WMO plan; the WMO did not recommend funding replacement stormwater meters requested by the city of Oconee (transcript spelling) because those were city utility maintenance items.
Grant match and operations: Moline told the board the WMO has about $700,000 in state grants in this biennium and must provide required matches (10% in some grants). The WMO also budgeted an increased maintenance fund for existing projects and modest staff cost increases that together drive most of the recommended levy rise. Staff estimated the levy change would raise the county tax on the average-valued home by about $1.04 annually.
Board action: Commissioner Fahey moved to approve the WMO preliminary levy, a motion the board adopted without recorded opposition. Moline asked the public to consult the WMO—s 2024 annual report for detail on projects and program areas.
Ending: the preliminary levy will be included in the county—s overall budget process; the WMO will continue coordinating grant matches and project prioritization with cities and the Soil and Water Conservation District.