County hears MICA briefing on 2025 state budget, transportation and human services

Nathan Jessen of the Minnesota Inter‑County Association (MICA) told the Rice County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 that Rice’s tax base is following the pattern of other non‑metro counties, with residential property comprising an increasing share of taxable value.

Jessen said the 2025 assessment year shows residential values remain a large and growing share of Rice County’s net tax capacity, while apartment and commercial shares are relatively smaller. He described the charting as a “constant‑class change” that excludes new construction when comparing year‑to‑year values.

Amber Backus, MICA’s transportation liaison, reviewed how the state’s projected budget deficit affected transportation. She said the transportation budget experienced significant cuts to general‑fund transportation dollars, but noted two targeted funding wins: $3 million in general‑fund money for the local government road wetland replacement program administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and $5 million in bonding for wetland projects that can generate mitigation credits. Backus also called attention to a $42 million allocation to the Local Road Improvement Program and encouraged counties to apply; competitive grant applications are due Dec. 12.

Backus said there is pushback from environmental and transit advocates about the emphasis on roads and bridges and warned legislators could seek to limit county control over certain road‑design standards. “We will be vociferously advocating to prevent those things from going forward,” she said.

Nancy Zaleski addressed human services and public‑health legislation. She said the legislature appropriated $35 million for SSIS (social services information system) replacement work and made MnChoices assessment changes that allow abbreviated reassessments for low‑change cases for up to three years and expanded remote reassessment authority. Zaleski also said the legislature provided funding to expand capacity at the Anoka‑Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC): $20 million for the Miller Building and $55 million in bonding to add about 50 beds.

Zaleski cautioned that counties will continue to face cost‑shift discussions and that a large work group was tasked with finding long‑term savings in long‑term care services; six county representatives serve on that group. She added that certain temporary county cost reprieves were not extended and that federal policy changes (SNAP and Medicaid work requirements, eligibility frequency) will cascade to state and county workloads.

MICA’s environmental liaison, Rachel Sysnowczyk, briefed commissioners on the 2024 Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act implementation and early 2026 priorities. She said counties should watch product‑stewardship rollouts (packaging initially, then likely batteries and electronics) and MPCA capital requests, including a roughly $55 million request for capital assistance and a larger bonding ask tied to updated construction‑and‑demolition landfill rules. Sysnowczyk highlighted the state’s recycling targets — 75% in the seven‑county metro and 45% for non‑metro counties by 2030 — and said reaching those goals will require policy changes, new programs and funding.

Why it matters: The briefing packaged multiple legislative results that affect county budgets and services. Commissioners heard specific program amounts and timelines they’ll need to operationalize locally (SSIS procurement timelines, deadline for grants, and work‑group deliverables). The presenters repeatedly urged county officials to continue sharing local examples with state legislators so MICA can tailor advocacy at the Capitol.

Sources: Presentation to the Rice County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14, 2025 by Nathan Jessen, Amber Backus, Nancy Zaleski and Rachel Sysnowczyk of MICA.