Winona County board presses staff for 2026 budget detail as commissioners debate reallocating outside-agency funds
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Summary
In a lengthy working session, Winona County commissioners examined 2026 budget drivers—health insurance, SNAP administration, local-option sales tax—and debated a proposal to shift $15,000 of outside-agency allocations to support homeless shelters while approving routine contracts.
Winona County commissioners spent substantial time Nov. 15 on a working-session review of the proposed 2026 budget, pressing staff for line-item detail and debating whether to reallocate outside-agency funding to support newly expanded homeless services.
County administration highlighted three principal budget drivers: rising health-insurance costs and employee-benefit negotiations, a state-to-county shift in SNAP administrative costs projected to add roughly $240,000'$800,000 in the coming years, and an anticipated turnover-savings target of about $500,000 tied to a soft hiring freeze. The administration also noted proposed eliminations of about 4.8 full-time-equivalent positions as part of budget balancing.
Commissioner Begley proposed shifting $15,000 in existing outside-agency allocations (including $1,000 from tourism, $6,000 from a regional initiative fund and $8,000 from Big Brothers Big Sisters) to provide seed funding for homeless shelters and wraparound services. Begley framed the proposal as a reallocation of existing money, not new levy dollars. Commissioners debated whether the responsibility for shelter funding falls to the city of Winona, private philanthropy or the county; several asked legal staff how a mid-year reallocation would interact with the county's existing outside-agency policy.
On routine business the board approved several consent items read into the record, including a group of purchase-of-service contracts and the renewal of an agreement with the Family and Children's Center for supervised visitation. The clerk read the consent list and the board voted to approve it; Commissioner Myers moved and Commissioner Olsen seconded the renewal of the Family and Children's Center contract, which the board approved.
Board members asked staff to provide granular backup for multiple budget lines (electricity, gasoline, capital project timing, and outside-agency reserves) and requested summaries showing what was contracted vs. discretionary funding. Administration said it will prepare additional details and recommended a planning period in early 2026 to develop a strategic approach for 2027 budget pressures.
Votes at a glance:
- Approved: Minutes of Oct. 28, 2025 (motion by Commissioner Elzing; second recorded in transcript; vote recorded as "aye"). - Approved: Consent business as read (consent list includes conditional use permit, bridge grant agreement, bid awards, and contract renewals). - Approved: Renewal of purchase-of-service and business associate agreements with Family and Children's Center for supervised visitation (motion by Commissioner Myers; second by Commissioner Olsen).
The board directed staff to return detailed documentation on outside-agency budgets and the specific line-item numbers commissioners requested; commissioners agreed to schedule additional budget planning work in early 2026.