Cottage Grove budget committee recommends 2026 draft budget; approves police station funding separately

The Village of Cottage Grove Budget Review Committee on Oct. 13 recommended the village's proposed 2026 draft budget to the Village Board and separately approved the police station project as presented in the 2026 budget.

Administrator Geezy summarized the package, saying the administration is recommending a levy just over $6,500,000 that, if approved as presented, "would result in a approximate $107 increase on the village's portion of the tax bill or 4.5% increase." Geezy told the committee the packet includes operating and capital highlights and that the recommendation from this committee will go to the Village Board and culminate in a public hearing in mid-November.

The recommendation follows department-by-department reviews that identified public-safety cost pressures — in police, fire and EMS — and several capital priorities. The committee approved the police station as a separate motion before recommending the overall budget.

Why it matters: the draft budget sets levy and capital priorities for the coming year, including a $16,300,000 police station project and recurring maintenance and road programs. The committee's recommendation sends the package to the Village Board for final consideration and public hearing.

Key items and figures - Proposed village levy: administration recommended slightly above $6.5 million (administration presented earlier draft figures of about $6,850,000 and a department-requests total near $6.9 million before reductions). - Estimated tax-bill impact: approximately $107 on the village portion of the tax bill (about a 4.5% increase) if the budget is adopted as proposed. - Major capital: new police station project listed at $16,300,000 in the capital budget request. - Other capital: annual road/sidewalk/trail maintenance (about $936,000 for repaving, $100,000 chip/crack fill and $15,000 maintenance in preliminary allocations) and vehicle/equipment replacement (approximately $840,000 across departments in the packet). - Equalized value and revaluation: Administrator Geezy said equalized value rose about 14% year-over-year and that a revaluation being done this year will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2026, bringing assessed value closer to 100% of fair market value.

Public safety and EMS Committee members and department chiefs described several public-safety budget changes. Chief Archibald of the Cottage Grove Fire Department said the department is moving to a paid-per-call model, including increases to officer pay and line items for turnout gear, apparatus maintenance and physicals; Archibald said, "Pay per call was obviously the big one that was already discussed." Deer Grove EMS Chief Lane reviewed the Deer Grove commission-approved budget, noting adjustments for a new labor contract, a projected increase in ambulance run fee revenue and the department's request to increase an EMS administrative services position from 16 hours to full time. Lane said the village portion of that full-time salary-and-benefits package would be about $25,415 and that the total municipal increase across partner jurisdictions was roughly $40,000; he added the EMS commission had not yet approved making the administrative position full time.

Lane described three budget scenarios included in the packet: (1) a "cost to continue" budget that omits the administrative position and includes expected contract increases and lower revenue projections (the packet shows a $1,100,000 figure associated with one scenario), (2) a 20-hour option and (3) a full-time option. Lane and committee members discussed overtime trade-offs and how a full-time administrative position might reduce unexpected overtime costs.

Police requests and timing Police leadership requested two additional officers and several technology and facility items tied to the new police station, including a live-scan fingerprint/mugshot booking station and expanded camera installations. The Law Enforcement Committee trimmed the chief's request by roughly $290,000; the two requested officer positions and a drone program were not included in the proposed budget. The chief said some items could return in future budgets if the police station contingency and final costs allow.

Parks, playground removal and donor funds Parks and Recreation staff requested capital funds to remove and repurpose elements of the existing Bakken Park playground in preparation for a proposed inclusive playground funded by the Miracle League. Administration reduced the park request from $35,000 to $25,000 in the proposed budget and proposed using donor-directed funds for part of the removal cost. Several committee members said donor-directed funds should remain restricted to youth-development uses and asked staff to use park development funds instead. Cameron (administration staff) reported that, after accounting for commitments, the unrestricted park-development balance would accommodate the $25,000 removal cost and that the committee's intent to use park-development funds could be reflected in their recommendation to the Village Board.

Planning, stormwater and other infrastructure items Planning staff requested a $100,000 consultant contract to update the village comprehensive plan; the packet notes a state law requirement to update the plan at least once every 10 years. Administration also presented a proposed stormwater-utility feasibility study, estimated at about $85,000, to evaluate billing units, crediting and ordinance changes and to provide public sessions so the board could decide on implementation for Jan. 1, 2027. Public Works presented equipment, street and trail priorities, and described a trade-in program and reduced salt-ordering needs due to inventory and brining operations.

Communications and mailers Committee member Cindy asked to increase the communications line item to add a third mailed outreach. Administration noted the 2026 proposed communications budget includes funding for two mailers and recommended increasing the line by $3,125 to support a third mailing. The committee's motion recommending the budget included the additional mailer.

Formal actions recorded in the meeting - Approval of minutes from the Aug. 19, 2025 Budget Review Committee meeting (motion moved by Murphy; seconded by Ballwick; voice vote; motion carried). - Separate approval of the police station as presented in the 2026 budget (motion made, seconded; voice vote; motion carried). - Motion to recommend the 2026 proposed draft budget to the Village Board, with the addition of a third mailed communication (motion made and seconded; voice vote; motion carried).

What comes next The committee's recommendation will go to the Village Board for further review and the package will proceed toward a public hearing scheduled for mid-November; the board will consider final levy and adoption. Several items removed or reduced by committees (police officer additions, drone program and some equipment) could reappear in later budgets depending on project contingencies and final costs.

Ending note Committee members repeatedly emphasized the constraints of keeping services funded while limiting levy increases and asked staff to return additional detail when available (for example, final police-station contingency use, EMS commission action on the administrative position, and finalized bids for 2026 road projects).