Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Beltrami County adopts 2026 budget and 9.63% property tax levy after debate over library cuts
Summary
Beltrami County commissioners approved the 2026 budget and a recommended 9.63% property tax levy, voting 4–1 after rejecting several amendments to restore library and transit funding. County Administrator Tom Berry said state and federal cost shifts and a small taxable base compelled the levy increase and a $700,000 contingency.
Beltrami County commissioners voted 4–1 to adopt the 2026 budget and the county’s property tax levy, approving a recommended 9.63% levy increase after more than an hour of public comment and multiple failed amendment attempts.
County Administrator Tom Berry told the board that inflation, a small taxable property base and “federal and state cost shifts” drove the budget choices. He said staff trimmed an initial proposal that would have required roughly a 16.5% levy increase down to the recommended 9.63% through departmental reductions and other measures. “So, in total, from a staff request to the end of the process where we are right now, we've cut an additional $2,250,000 out of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
