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Mercer County commissioners review 2026 department budgets; proposed transfers for landfill and vehicle fund noted
Summary
At a July 25 special meeting, the Mercer County Commission reviewed department 2026 budgets; notable proposals included a $100,000 General Fund transfer to the landfill for a new loader and a proposed $10,000-per-month transfer into a sheriff vehicle fund. Several line-item changes were presented and one auditor item was tabled.
The Mercer County Commission met in special session on July 25, 2025, to review department budgets for 2026. Chairman Gene Wolf presided as department heads and county officers presented budget proposals and line-item changes.
Auditor Carmen Reed presented county-wide budgets and proposed three adjustments: verify that health and insurance amounts are split between funds, increase the audit line item to $80,000, and change the NDIRF budget line item (1001.41890.381) to $7,500. The board tabled the NDIRF line-item change until later in the meeting due to time constraints.
Extension Agent Craig Askim and Tax Director Jennifer Neumiller each presented their office budgets and reported no changes. Landfill Director Candy Strand requested the board add $100,000 to be transferred from the General Fund to the Landfill Fund to purchase a new loader. Highway Superintendent Elroy Opp and Moore Engineer Jim Jackson presented the Highway Department budget and said flex funding would be incorporated.
Building Maintenance Supervisor Jim Albers, Treasurer Dawn Grannis, Recorder Shannan Senger, and Clerk of Court Wanda Knutson each reviewed their respective budgets and reported no changes. HR/EM Director Alice Grinsteinner asked the board to add a $4,500 advertising line item in the HR budget for job postings, discussed requested raises, and said the emergency management/HR role is split approximately 25/75.
Sheriff Terry Ternes presented the Sheriff’s Office budget and outlined proposed changes, including transferring $10,000 per month from the General Fund into a Special Vehicle Fund for future vehicle purchases and moving Ashley Hill’s wage from the General Fund to the 911 fund. These were presented as budget proposals during the hearing; the transcript does not record a formal vote on those items.
The only recorded formal vote in the special meeting was at the start of the session when Commissioner Rick Bauman moved to approve the special meeting agenda as presented and Commissioner Jamee Folk seconded; the board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda.
The commission recessed several times during the meeting and concluded its review of remaining Auditor budgets, including the Veteran’s Officer and County Nurse, with no further changes noted. The meeting adjourned at 12:47 p.m.; the board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Mercer County Government Center boardroom in Stanton. Several items presented at the July 25 special meeting remain proposals and are expected to be considered again when the formal 2026 budget is adopted.
