WASECA COUNTY — The Waseca County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the county's 2026 budget and set a final levy of 6.12% following a public hearing at its evening meeting.

Administrator Michael Johnson, who presented the budget, told the board the figure includes a one-time technical change: the LaSueur-Waseca regional library's taxing authority will be absorbed under the county for 2026. "So really there are exactly 2 alternatives," Johnson said, "1, completely cut library services or 2, move those library services under the authority of Waseca County." He said the library line equals $563,634 and that amount had already been present on taxpayers' bills in 2025.

Johnson said the board's staff recommendation focuses on a 3% operational levy increase for county programs; when combined with the absorbed library amount the total levy change from 2025 to 2026 is 6.12%. Johnson presented the overall budget figure of $39,535,614 and noted that, excluding the library transfer, the county's operational levy increase would be 3% and the county's six-year average levy increase is about 2.31%.

The board opened the meeting for public comment on the budget; no members of the public came forward. After brief discussion and recognition of staff work, the board approved Resolution 2025-56 setting the final levy at 6.12% and adopting the 2026 budget by voice vote.

What this means: the library funding will be administered under county authority for 2026 and the county's operational programs are planned at a 3% increase. Administrator Johnson said staff will continue discussions with Le Sueur County about the longer-term structure of regional library services.

Next steps: The budget and levy adoption completes the county's formal budget process for 2026; staff will proceed with administrative implementation and final property tax statement calculations.

"If you look at your tax statement, you'll see a variety of levy authorities," Johnson told attendees during the presentation. "Waseca County is the only thing we're talking about today."