Murray County board sets 8.13% preliminary levy, schedules Nov. 25 budget hearing

The Murray County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a preliminary levy for 2026 that increases the county’s levy 8.13 percent and scheduled a public budget hearing for Nov. 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Murray County Board of Commissioners Room at the Murray County Government Center in Slayton.

Commissioner Jackie Meier offered Resolution 2025-09-25-01, which the board adopted after a second from Commissioner Mark Carlson. The resolution sets the 2026 gross levy and the state-aid offsets used to calculate net levy amounts for the county’s main funds.

Under the resolution the 2026 gross and net levies are listed as follows: General Fund gross levy $6,848,611 with state aid offset ($459,351) for a net of $6,389,260; Road & Bridge gross levy $2,116,062 with state aid offset ($141,929) for a net of $1,974,133; Human Services gross levy $1,780,582 with state aid offset ($119,427) for a net of $1,661,155. The total 2026 gross levy is $10,745,255, state aid offsets total $720,707, producing a 2026 net levy of $10,024,548.

The board recorded the motion as moved by Meier and seconded by Mark Carlson; the minutes state "thereupon being put to a vote all members of the Board voted for its adoption." The record in the meeting packet identifies Commissioners Loy Woelber, Jackie Meier, Mark Carlson, Dennis Welgraven and Roger Zins as present for the vote.

The Truth in Taxation process uses the preliminary levy set by Sept. 30 to prepare estimated tax notices; the formal public hearing on Nov. 25 will allow residents to comment before the board considers a final levy. The board did not specify changes to the levy after the hearing at this meeting.