Beltrami County adopts 2026 budget and 9.63% property tax levy after debate over library cuts

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 the budget,” Berry said.

Why it matters: Berry and several speakers warned that Beltrami County’s taxable base is constrained — less than 25% of county land is property-taxable — which amplifies the local impact of state and federal funding changes. The administrator also described a $700,000 annual contingency the county will build to smooth future “cost shifts” and said the county uses one-time sources such as ARPA for nonrecurring expenses.

Public reaction and the board debate focused on community programs, particularly funding for the Kitchigami Regional Library System (KRLS). Multiple residents and library staff described potential service cuts, with Bemidji branch manager Sherilyn Warren saying a roughly 40% cut would shrink open hours and eliminate staff: “cutting libraries during budgetary crisis is like cutting hospitals during a plague,” she said.

Commissioner Gould moved repeatedly to amend the budget to add funding for Bemidji and Blackduck libraries ($173,000), the Beltrami County Historical Society ($7,500) and Paul Bunyan Transit ($7,500). Those amendment motions repeatedly failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Carlson then moved to approve the budget as presented; Commissioner Winger seconded. The board recorded a roll-call vote that passed 4–1.

What passed: the fiscal-year 2026 budget and the property tax levy resolution as presented, with the board directing staff to implement line-item decisions in keeping with the adopted budget. Commissioners discussed but did not adopt amendments to restore library funding to 2024 levels or the proposed 'meet me halfway' $81,000 option.

Next steps: the county will proceed with the adopted budget measures, continue pursuing grant revenue and cost-recovery strategies and maintain the contingency account to mitigate future state or federal cost shifts. The administrator offered to meet individually with residents who asked for detailed line-item explanations.

Vote and procedure note: a formal roll-call vote was taken on the final motion to adopt the budget and levy; the motion carried 4–1.