Carver County lays out 2026 legislative priorities, warns of growing unfunded mandates

Carver County officials used a Nov. 3 work session to emphasize rising state and federal cost shifts they say are squeezing local budgets and to present a short list of 2026 legislative priorities that the county will press with legislators.

Administrator Dave Hemsey told commissioners the platform highlights 11 items under general government, health and human services, and parks and trails, and frames a single, overarching concern: unfunded mandates that force local tax increases or service changes. "We're asking to remove or revise those unfunded mandates, and if you don't do that, give us funding — help us out instead of shifting the burden to us," Hemsey said.

Why it matters: County staff said several recent and pending state and federal changes would increase Carver County's costs and complicate long-term fiscal planning. Hemsey said the county is recommending a 2% levy increase for three years to help absorb newly identified mandates if state or federal funding does not follow the new requirements.

Major items discussed

Child-protection law and cost estimate: Hemsey and other staff highlighted the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act (referred to in the meeting by that name) as a major potential cost driver. "We're looking at $3,500,000 just for Carver County," Hemsey said, describing that figure as a multi-year estimate. Commissioners asked staff to press for a delay and further fiscal study at the state level so legislators could reassess costs and pilot results from Ramsey and Hennepin…