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Council tables Housing Authority 2026 levy request for more information
Summary
Council members asked staff for clearer budget detail and reserve figures before acting on the Housing Authority's 2026 levy request and voted 6–1 to table the item to Sept. 15 to allow staff to return with additional data.
The Brainerd City Council on Tuesday deferred action on the Housing Authority's (HA) 2026 levy request, directing staff to provide additional budget detail and reserve figures before taking a vote.
Council President Johnson asked HA liaison Kevin Joerger to explain the requested levy. Joerger said wage and benefit increases and recent turnover were "a big driver" of the HA's budget request and that the HA board was unanimous in advancing the number to the council. City staff confirmed that a reduction in projected Minnesota Housing Finance Agency revenue (from eight budgeted rehab projects down to six) produced an $82,700 decline in that revenue line, a figure that correspondingly lowered the related expenditure projection.
Several council members asked for more clarity on reserves and the detailed line items behind the HA request. Administrator Broyals said staff would circulate the spreadsheet provided by Finance and the utility/HA contacts and explained implementation options, adding that any council action on a pilot or levy could be accomplished "via resolution" or through the budget process. Council member Chzach moved to table the HA levy to the Sept. 15 meeting so staff could provide the requested materials; Ericson seconded. The motion carried 6–1 on the voice/roll call recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: The HA levy affects the HA operating budget and the city’s tax levy calculations; council members emphasized competing pressures from wage and benefit gaps, limited project capacity and the desire to understand reserve levels before committing to the full HA request.
What happens next: Staff will circulate the utilities/HA spreadsheet and additional explanatory materials and return the item to the council on Sept. 15. The transcript did not specify exact reserve dollar amounts; council directed staff to provide those figures for the follow-up meeting.
Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from the council discussion and staff comments reported in the meeting transcript. The first reference to each speaker includes the name and role as stated in the record (e.g., "Councilman Kevin Joerger").
