Administrator warns of large state human-services cuts; board removes federal grant from consent agenda and adds transfer station bid

County Administrator Barry briefed the Beltrami County Board on a legislative picture that could materially affect county finances and outlined several agenda and project updates.

Barry said the human services omnibus proposals at the state legislature include major cost-shifting measures. He reported statewide human-services reductions in the house and senate drafts ranging from about $200 million to $400 million in fiscal years 2026–27, rising to $430 million to $1.2 billion in fiscal years 2028–29; Barry said cumulative reductions over the next four years could total roughly $630 million to $1.6 billion statewide. Translated to Beltrami County, Barry estimated fiscal-year 2026–27 reductions to county human-services funding between about $2.4 million and $4.7 million, which he said could equate to potential levy increases of roughly 9.3% to 16.2% if the county had to raise the full amount locally. Barry cautioned that the legislature had not finalized bills and the figures were estimates.

Barry said the county is already seeing some previously promised funds rescinded; he asked the board to remove the federal boat-and-water grant from the consent agenda because the state (federal) allocation was no longer available. He also said one grant the county planned to request was rescinded.

On capital projects, Barry said the purchase-and-sale agreement for the Northern Township sewer project is near final and he expects an agenda item for board action at the May 6 regular meeting; Northern Township will hold a public information meeting April 22 at 7 p.m. at Bemidji State University’s Beaux Arts Ballroom. Barry said Northern Township has formally filed for incorporation as a city, which could add a city inside the county if approved.

Barry reported a bid for the Bemidji transfer station remodel and related facility work arrived today at a price lower than the budgeted amount (fiscal-year 2025 budget included approximately $2.3 million for the work). Because bids typically lapse quickly and only three weeks remain before the next meeting, Barry requested that the board add a late agenda item to approve the bid so the county could lock prices and potentially start earlier.

During the work session the board agreed to modify the agenda: item 7k (the federal boat-and-water grant) was removed from the consent agenda, item 7d (a fund balance transfer) was moved to regular session item 8a, and the board added item 8b to the regular session for bid approval of the transfer station projects. Commissioner Sumner stated opposition to last-minute additions; the board adopted the agenda changes by majority consensus so the transfer-station bid could be considered in regular session.