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Otter Tail County adopts proposed 2026 levy and budget, sets truth‑in‑taxation hearing for Dec. 2
Summary
County staff presented the proposed pay‑2026 levy and a proposed budget; commissioners adopted the resolution to adopt the proposed budget and levy (county‑only levy increase reported at 5.74%). Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing set for Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.
Otter Tail County commissioners adopted a resolution on Sept. 23 to approve the proposed pay‑2026 budget and levy and set the Truth‑in‑Taxation public hearing for Dec. 2, 2025.
Interim deputy administrator Chris Vipon presented the levy and budget summary. He reported a county‑only levy increase of 5.74% and, when including library, lake improvement districts, CVA and HRAs, a combined levy increase of about 5.55% versus the prior year. Staff reported the county proposed a gross levy in their materials and a net property tax levy figure; the board adopted the resolution as presented.
Vipon told the board that county departments had worked through budget hearings and that county program aid had decreased about 2.6%, contributing to upward pressure on the levy. Commissioners praised staff for restraint in departmental budgets and for delivering a lower‑than‑anticipated levy increase compared with early estimates.
Commissioner Mortensen moved adoption of the proposed budget and levy resolution; Commissioner Lamond seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The board also set the Truth‑in‑Taxation public hearing for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Otter Tail Lake Room in the courthouse.
No additional levy figures beyond those presented at the meeting were provided in the transcript; staff materials in the packet contain numeric details.
