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Board adopts 2027–2031 capital improvement plan; highway shop design and $20 million 2028 projection highlighted
Summary
The Dunn County Board approved the 2027–2031 capital improvement plan that includes an $800,000 design phase for a proposed new highway shop and a projected $20 million build in 2028; staff estimated that meeting the project as proposed would raise the county debt levy by $1 million in 2028 (about $51 per year on a $300,000 home).
The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s 2027–2031 capital improvement plan on May 20, advancing multiple departmental capital requests and flagging a major highway shop proposal that would likely increase the county’s debt levy if constructed as currently projected.
County staff described the CIP as a five‑year program compiled from departmental submissions and committee reviews. The highway shop proposal was presented as a two‑part program: design work in 2027 (estimated at roughly $800,000) and construction in 2028 (projected at about $20 million). The manager explained the design work would be wasted if the board decided not to proceed later, because the design cost would already be incurred.
Staff outlined current deficiencies at the existing highway facility — insufficient enclosed equipment storage, an undersized wash bay, tight turning clearances and safety concerns — and said roughly $20 million was a planning estimate for a heated 72,000‑square‑foot storage building and an automated wash bay to improve operations and protect county equipment. The manager also said a needs assessment had shown smaller alternatives (36,000–54,000 sq ft) and that final size, construction type and cost would be refined during the design phase.
On funding, the manager presented three main options: (1) use fund balance (subject to county ordinance limits and available balances), (2) borrow (the county typically budgets $3 million per year for capital projects), or (3) reduce operations to free levy capacity. The manager said the county’s unassigned fund balance must remain between 35% and 50% of annual expenses under county ordinance and noted the county expects to be budgeted at the 35% minimum in 2026, limiting available fund-balance flexibility.
Staff estimated that increasing the county’s debt levy by $1 million would raise the mill rate by about $0.017 per $1,000 of equalized value — roughly a $51 annual increase for a homeowner with a $300,000 property, assuming other factors unchanged.
The board approved the CIP by roll call. Committee and administration staff will proceed with design procurement steps for projects included in the plan; specific project budgets and funding sources will be finalized through the 2027 budget process.
