Crow Wing County adopts 2026 preliminary levy after HRA funding amendment fails

The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners adopted a preliminary property tax levy of $50,839,879 for 2026 — a 6.49% increase over the 2025 levy — after hearing a detailed presentation on a new five‑year operational budget and a sustained public and commissioner debate about funding for the Crow Wing County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) housing trust fund.

Nancy, a county finance staff member who led the budget presentation, told the board the county completed its first five‑year operational budget and after four rounds of changes is proposing a 2026 preliminary levy of just over $50.8 million. “This is our first 5 year operational budget for the county,” Nancy said, describing the goal of smoothing peaks and valleys in revenue and expense planning. Her slides showed total revenues for 2026 projected at about $115.8 million and total expenditures at $121.5 million, with personnel services and highways contractor fees representing sizable cost drivers.

Nancy and county staff described key drivers and highlights: a projected $3.0 million increase in the property tax levy, an estimated $3.5 million increase in intergovernmental revenue (including highway state aid and federal highway grants), a 7.7% increase in personnel services (about $4.5 million), and a $10.2…