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Rice–Steele 911 center presents 2026 budget amid move to new facility
Summary
The Rice–Steele 911 center presented a 2026 budget proposing a 4.4% increase in total expenditures, with Rice County covering 64.2% of costs and Steele County 35.8%. The presentation outlined technology upgrades, increased rent tied to a larger facility, contingency plans and a request that the Joint Powers Board review the plan in September.
Denise Anderson, director of Property Tax & Elections, told the Rice County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 that the Rice–Steele 911 center's 2026 budget proposal focuses on stability during a planned move to a new facility and on investments in technology and staff readiness.
Anderson said 64.2 percent of the center’s expenditures would be paid by Rice County and 35.8 percent by Steele County, noting total expenditures are projected to rise by about 4.4 percent next year. County contributions were initially forecast at an 8.2 percent increase but were negotiated down to 6.2 percent, she said.
"The 4.4% increase is a total — it reflects moving into the new facility, higher personnel and technology costs," Anderson said. She told commissioners the new site increases usable square footage by roughly 50 percent, which is the principal driver of the rent increase projected in the budget.
The presentation highlighted technology and operations issues: expected rises in health-insurance and leave costs because of Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program, a 9.5 percent increase on the health/life/disability insurance line, and growing maintenance costs for CAD and records systems. Anderson said the center is contracting some services (for example, GIS) and considering hosted or geodiverse IT strategies to mitigate risk.
Commissioners pressed for clarification on backup-site arrangements after Anderson reported the previously expected short-term backup at the City of Owatonna law enforcement building will not be available. Anderson said the center currently can use a small backup location at the Farrar Point Police Department basement and has short-term agreements to transfer phone lines and share CAD with Dakota County, but that long-term redundancy planning remains a work in progress.
The presenter said she will present the budget to Steele County that afternoon and forward it to the Joint Powers Board for approval on Sept. 15.
The board did not take a formal vote on the budget at this meeting; commissioners thanked staff for the update and asked for follow-up information on lease terms, backup facility options and contingency planning.
Next steps: the Joint Powers Board review on Sept. 15 and additional county-level follow-up on lease and backup arrangements.
