Meeker County adopts 2026 budget and levy, approves personnel policies and commissioner pay

Meeker County commissioners adopted two resolutions Dec. 16 setting the county’s 2026 annual budget and property tax levy and approved several personnel items in the same meeting.

County Administrator Andrew Lutzin said the proposed 2026 annual budget totals $46,448,540 in expenditures, an approximate 11.1% decrease from the previous year, and recommended a property tax levy of $19,010,391, a 9.16% increase over 2025. Key planned expenses in the budget include software upgrades, courthouse parking-lot resurfacing, replacement of air-handlers and temperature controls, several vehicle and equipment replacements, jail bed upgrades, election equipment purchases and $70,000 to implement the Minnesota paid leave program.

Commissioner Oberg moved and Commissioner Schmidt seconded the resolutions to adopt the 2026 budget and levy; the roll-call vote was unanimous in favor.

Personnel actions: The board approved updated personnel policies, including language addressing cost-of-living adjustments for employees on administrative leave, and discussed the Minnesota paid leave law. Some commissioners sought an explicit carve-out for elected officials; a motion to exclude elected officials died for lack of a second. County staff and the county attorney explained that the law allows employers to structure exemptions but that any carve-out would mean the county pays the full premium for those officials. The policy motion passed; one commissioner recorded an “aye under protest.”

The board also approved personnel adjustments in the annual budget: a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for noncontract employees, no new full-time positions, and three position reclassifications recommended through the compensation study. Separately, a resolution set commissioner salary at $30,000 for 2026 with per diems of $125 per day and $75 per half day; that motion passed on roll call.

Finally, after a closed session, the board approved an “exceeds expectation” rating and set the county administrator’s 2026 salary at $165,000.

Why it matters: The levy and budget set the county’s revenue requirement for 2026 and fund a range of county services. The paid-leave discussion highlighted how the new state benefit will interact with county payroll and elected-official compensation. Personnel adjustments affect county staffing costs and classification structure.

Next steps: Staff will implement budgeted projects, finalize paid-leave procedures and return to the board if contract amendments or additional appropriations are required.