Aitkin County Commissioners approved the county’s 2026 budget, and County Auditor Kathleen Ryan told the program 'Coffee with the County' that the final levy increase was 5.24% while noting the county will use fund balance for one-time capital needs.

The budget matters because the levy percentage determines how much local property taxpayers contribute and funds county services. Ryan said the county deliberately preserved fund balance to cover one-time capital projects and possible future shocks, citing the COVID pandemic as an example when reserve funds were needed to keep services running.

Ryan described the budget timeline and key elements. She said the county’s budget process typically begins in June and that a preliminary budget must be passed by Sept. 30. The preliminary budget included a 5.24% levy increase, and Ryan said the commissioners left that rate unchanged when they approved the final budget: "It was passed at 5.24%." She added: "You don't wanna have too high of a levy increase, but you don't wanna have too low of a levy increase either. You have to look out to the future."

On spending priorities, Ryan said the county plans to use fund balance for one-time capital or one-time expenses, and she identified a planning and zoning software upgrade as an example: "we're able to use some of those recorder funds for that one-time software implementation process in planning and zoning, which will help multiple areas in the county to be more efficient and more user friendly." The auditor described fund-balance usage as a routine approach for capital projects that were planned over time, not sudden expenditures.

Ryan also described a Health and Human Services building remodel funded in part by state support: "We're remodeling the Health And Human Services Building that is funded by a $2,000,000 bond from the state of Minnesota. We have fund balance put aside to pay for the balance of it. So that remodel, we are not going out for another loan." She said other capital items remain under consideration but require time to plan and identify the best funding approach.

Ryan warned that recently passed state legislation could shift responsibilities and costs to counties, creating budgetary challenges that planners need to anticipate. She also singled out fuel costs as a major driver in the highway department's budget, affecting operations and construction projects.

Host Mark noted the commissioners approved the budget "yesterday" and restated in closing that "County commissioners passed the county budget at a 5.2 percent increase for 2026." The transcript does not include a formal motion text, a vote tally, or names of commissioners who moved or seconded the motion.

The next procedural steps mentioned on the program were routine: staff will continue capital planning and prepare for the next budget cycle, which typically restarts in June.