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County staff present preliminary 2026 budget plan; board weighs personnel additions and levy implications
Summary
Staff presented a preliminary 2026 budget showing a 5.6% proposed levy increase driven by personnel costs, bargaining agreements, health insurance assumptions and capital projects; commissioners discussed priorities including deputies, fraud investigator, environmental-fee changes and future risks tied to human-services mandates.
Stearns County staff delivered a preliminary 2026 budget update and levy outlook on Oct. 5, showing a proposed levy increase of roughly 5.6% driven largely by personnel costs and health-insurance assumptions.
County Administrator Mike (presenter name in packet) summarized the budget drivers: bargaining-unit wage increases and salary adjustments, a 3.5% health-insurance cost assumption, continued highway construction, and new obligations such as the state’s paid family and medical leave program. Paid family and medical leave was estimated in the presentation at roughly…
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