Board hears 2026 budget options, schedules work session; recycling contract vote postponed for shorter-term options
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Summary
Administrator Kelsey Baker presented four budget options to address a preliminary 7.1% levy; commissioners directed a Dec. 2 work session for deeper review. Separately, staff recommended a hybrid recycling bid but the board postponed awarding the recycling contract and directed staff to negotiate shorter-term contract options with the vendor.
Kelsey Baker, Kandiyohi County administrator, presented a 2026 budget update and four options to reduce the preliminary levy (set at 7.1%). She highlighted large ongoing costs including medical aid to prisoners ($1,500,000), landfill earth-moving ($900,000), landfill leachate ($470,000), road dust control ($715,000), and jail utilities (~$330,000). Baker proposed using targeted reserves and quasi-government grant reductions as options to lower the levy and recommended Option 3 (use of reserves plus targeted reductions) depending on the recycling contract outcome.
Commissioners pressed staff on alternative cuts, the timing of Truth in Taxation, and whether staff had completed a line-by-line review. Views diverged: some commissioners urged further cuts and a full board work session to consider capital postponements and quasi-government grants; others urged caution against cutting reserves too deeply or cutting staff.
After debate, the board scheduled a special work session for Dec. 2 at 9:00 a.m. (motion passed on roll call, 3–2) to provide full-board review before the Truth in Taxation meeting.
On a linked agenda item, Environmental Services Director Gary Gear reviewed multiple recycling bid options (biweekly city service with rural drop sites; hybrid models; countywide 4-week service). Staff recommended Bid 5, a hybrid that retains biweekly collection for cities and higher-density rural pockets while providing drop sites for remaining rural addresses. Commissioners raised equity and access concerns for remote residents and whether contractors would accept shorter contracts; director Gear said contractors prefer five-year terms because of equipment and route investments and that shorter terms would increase cost. After extended debate and failed motions for various bid choices, the board voted to postpone awarding the recycling contract and directed staff to negotiate with the incumbent vendor on shorter-term options and return options at the next meeting (postponement motion passed 4–1).
