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Sandlac County Board adopts 2026 budget, approves claims, agreements and fee changes
Summary
The Sandlac County Board adopted the 2026 general appropriation resolution after a public hearing and approved a slate of routine claims, personnel agreements for medical examiner investigators, a $20,000 medical examiner shortfall authorization, and an increase to mechanical/electrical/plumbing permit fees.
After opening and holding a public hearing on the proposed 2026 general fund budget, the Sandlac County Board of Commissioners voted on Nov. 25 to adopt the 2026 budget resolution and associated non‑general fund budgets.
The motion to adopt the 2026 budget was offered by Commissioner Bill Sarkeella and supported by Commissioner John Moody. A roll call vote recorded six affirmative votes: Commissioners John Moody, Christine Lee, Bill Sarkeella, Gary Heberlain, Roger Ballard and Chair John Black — the resolution passed.
The board also handled a slate of routine fiscal and personnel matters during new business. Highlights:
- Approval of current claims dated Nov. 25, 2025, totaling $260,337.90 (motion carried by voice vote). - Approval of budget amendments and establishment of listed accounts (FA163-25) (voice vote). - Authorization of up to $20,000 from general fund contingency to cover a medical examiner FY2025 budget shortfall (FA177-25) (voice vote). - Approval of a lead medical examiner scene investigator agreement for Chad Schmidt effective Nov. 1, 2025, and multiple MSI agreements effective Dec. 1, 2025, for named individuals; the chair was authorized to sign the agreements (FA178-25, FA179-25) (voice votes). - Adoption of a revised fee schedule for construction and land-use permitting, increasing mechanical/electrical/plumbing application fees from $50 to $75 and adding a $75 reinspection fee, effective Jan. 1, 2026 (FA180-25) (voice vote).
Why it matters: adopting the budget establishes the county’s legal spending limits for 2026 and the related measures (personnel agreements and fee changes) set administrative and operational parameters for several county functions.
The board closed the public hearing on the budget before moving to routine approvals and then recessed to a closed session to review union contract negotiations; commissioners estimated the closed session would be brief. No substantive changes to the adopted budget were announced at the meeting.
