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Waite Park council adopts preliminary 2026 budget and property tax levy resolutions
Summary
The council adopted a preliminary 2026 general fund budget of $14,191,506 and approved a preliminary property tax levy of $13,300,843 and a revised preliminary levy of $12,843,200; staff said levies may be reduced later during the budget process but not increased.
The Waite Park City Council approved three separate budget-related resolutions for 2026: adoption of a preliminary general fund budget of $14,191,506, adoption of a preliminary property tax levy of $13,300,843, and adoption of a revised preliminary property tax levy of $12,843,200.
City staff explained that the $14,191,506 general fund figure represents a 6.75% increase over 2025 and that the preliminary property tax levy of $13,300,843 would represent an 8.3% increase from 2025. Staff said the revised preliminary levy of $12,843,200 is lower because it cancels out 2018A bond amounts that are paid by sales tax and thus do not require a levy. Staff also clarified that, under the city’s budget process, these preliminary levies may be decreased if needed as the budget process proceeds, but they cannot be increased.
Council member 5 presented each of the three resolutions separately; motions to approve were moved and seconded and each resolution passed by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript. Council also approved recommended rural tax rates for certain tax codes tied to orderly annexation agreements.
Staff announced a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget and tax levy to be held Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Saint Cloud School District Administration Office (as read into the record), and reminded the council that dates for future meetings were adjusted, including no meeting Oct. 6 and a regularly scheduled Oct. 20 meeting.
