Goodhue County budget panel recommends keeping 2027 outside-agency funding at 2026 levels

The Goodhue County Budget Committee on June 9 recommended that outside-agency funding for 2027 remain at the same levels approved for 2026, while recording a contractually required increase for SELCO that raises its allocation to $619,339.

Commissioner Sue Betcher, listed as present in the minutes, thanked the county’s outside agencies for their service and noted the County Board’s appreciation. County staff present included County Administrator Scott Arneson and Andrea Benck, assistant to the administrator.

The minutes show the committee reviewed individual agency requests and recommended the same funding levels the county approved in 2026. Notable recommended allocations include Cannon Valley Trail ($151,849), Goodhue County History Center ($137,000), Soil and Water Conservation District ($462,000), Goodhue County Fair ($55,000), Goodhue County Humane Society ($21,000) and several smaller grants. The minutes list a recommended total of $877,878 for the outside agencies shown.

The minutes also record that Goodhue County has a contract with SELCO that ties annual increases to the Consumer Price Index. Using the 2025 CPI increase of 2.10%, the 2027 SELCO allocation is recorded as $619,339 (up from $606,600 in 2026). SEMMCHRA is listed with a recommended 2027 allocation of $386,940.

The committee’s action is recorded as a recommendation in the minutes; the document does not show a roll-call vote or record a formal motion with mover/second, nor does it specify the next procedural step for county board approval. The minutes serve as the official record of the committee’s review and recommendation on the outside-agency funding requests for 2027.