Wabasha County staff says legislative cost shifts delayed; county reviews 2026 capital requests

County staff told the Wabasha County Board of Commissioners on June 17 that recent legislative action appears to postpone several previously anticipated cost shifts for roughly two years, giving the county more time to plan for budget changes.

The board heard the update before commissioners reviewed a list of 2026 capital and community funding requests. County staff said an earlier ‘‘worst case’’ estimate of $1,100,000 is likely to be ‘‘significantly less’’ after the legislative changes and that aquatic invasive species funding appears to be funded through at least 2028.

The county’s finance staff, identified in the meeting only as Gwen, summarized the community and capital requests that have been submitted for fiscal year 2026. Items listed for possible funding include: - Senior nutrition: $5,000 request - SEMTRA HRA (listed as “Sumtra HRA” in the packet): $97,332 - Southeast Minnesota tourism: $1,069 - Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation: $3,150 - Wabasha County Fair: $25,000 - Wabasha County Historical Society: $15,000 - Wabasha County Soil and Conservation: $140,000 - Whitewater River watershed project: $4,009.82 - SELCO contract projection noted in the packet (projected contract totals shown; 5-year contract shown to run through 2027)

Gwen told the board that some departmental capital requests remain outstanding; she said squad-car replacement quotes for the sheriff’s department were not finalized and that quotes are expected in July. She also said the county had not received a 2026 dollar amount from Southeast Minnesota Emergency Medical Services (SE MN EMS) and would follow up.

Budget timelines were also clarified: department budgets are due July 7, but not all allocations will be available until late July or early August, and some figures remain estimates. Gwen said some items shown in the packet reflect total project costs rather than the 2026 request and asked commissioners to focus on the 2026 column when reviewing proposals.

The board was told that a budget committee meeting will review the completed requests and outstanding items; staff said the two-year delay on some state cost shifts provides time to prepare, but that the deferred changes are likely to return in later legislation. The county also referenced assistance from the Association of Minnesota Counties for interpreting legislative changes.

The board did not take a final budget vote at the June 17 meeting; staff and the budget committee will continue refining numbers and following up on missing requests.