The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners adopted a set of 2026 budget resolutions on a single-motion voice vote, approving levy-related and non-levy budget items, fund transfers and year-end reserve carryovers.

County Auditor Kathleen Ryan reviewed routine budget actions and said the packet includes an updated resolution for the boat-and-water budget and the customary transfer of interest to the Long Lake Conservation Center. "This year, we have $25,000 budgeted to transfer from Fund 18 to Fund 19, which is Tulong (Long) Lake Conservation Center," Ryan said, noting the transfer is interest earned on the environmental trust fund and that statute allows spending interest for environmental betterment but not the principal.

The board adopted the budget resolutions collectively after Chair and commissioners agreed to handle the standard annual actions together. Commissioner Westerlund moved the adoption with Commissioner Carney supporting; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition.

Ryan also presented a breakdown of levy funds and non-levy funds. She flagged an item to reserve $2,000,000 from the general fund to help offset the Health & Human Services building project, which she described as approximately a $6 million project with additional bond funds and departmental contributions. The board approved the carryover of 2025 reserve funds into 2026, removing only small, unnecessary reserves and confirming larger planned reservations.

The auditor discussed other transfers included in the packet: a 50/50 split from the ConCon fund and resource development fund to budget the county surveyor/survey department at 100% for 2026, and transfers to cover road-and-bridge maintenance in unorganized townships for 2025 activity. The board had no further questions and approved the packet.

What happens next: the county will implement the adopted 2026 levy and budget as outlined in the resolutions; routine monitoring and departmental reporting will follow in the regular budget cycle.