Legislative recap: county avoids some state cost shifts but landfill rulemaking remains a threat

Darren Lee of Flaherty & Hood briefed Beltrami County commissioners on the 2025 Minnesota legislative session and highlighted items that could affect the county's budget and operations.

Lee said the Legislature avoided several proposed state cost shifts that would have increased county obligations for disability waiver services, behavioral health and certain offender programs. "Luckily, all of those those shifts were defeated," he said.

However, Lee warned the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is preparing rulemaking for closed, demolition and construction (C&D) landfills that could impose compliance costs on counties. He said the MPCA planned a draft rule and comment period and that county advocates should submit comments and pursue funding or carve-outs. "The state should fund those costs to close those landfills, and get in compliance with the new rule," he said, and noted there are bills that could limit MPCA rulemaking.

Lee also summarized a modest bonding bill that passed with roughly $700 million statewide and highlighted funds for local road and bridge programs and clean-water projects but said the bill contained no Beltrami County local projects.

Commissioners raised the county's demolition landfill permit, which expires in 2029; Lee and commissioners discussed pursuing an exemption or extension to avoid unplanned costs for rural counties.

Ending: Lee said the county should continue engagement with legislators and MPCA rulemaking to protect local fiscal interests; commissioners and staff indicated continued follow-up.