Auditor presents 2027 working budget; commissioners debate setting general-fund mills to zero

Sally Whittingham, Dunn County auditor/treasurer, led a broad review of the county’s 2027 working budget, outlining projected revenues, planned transfers and capital priorities. She told commissioners the county is projecting roughly $32 million in government receipts and proposed a $40 million transfer to roads in the working budget as staff plug in department requests.

Auditor Whittingham said the county’s external auditors (Rath & Meyer) recommended reducing the county’s general-fund mill levy to zero this year to preserve statutory flexibility that would allow a one-time, larger increase in a future year if needed. She explained the recommendation is about regulatory compliance and reserve management; several commissioners discussed the trade-offs of moving to zero now versus holding current mill rates and agreed to take the auditors’ advice to the next meeting for a formal motion and preliminary-budget action.

The working budget as presented included proposals and requests from departments earlier in the meeting: a $450,000 request to shore up the housing fund and $450,000 for the Young Producers grant (presented by Carrie, county development staff) and a $3,000,000 recommendation for school bond relief in the capital plan. The auditor said the county may need to reassign some capital projects and that state and pipeline valuation updates would be included as soon as they arrive; she will circulate a revised budget before the next meeting.

Commissioners discussed the implications of the auditors’ recommendation and the mechanics of making any mill-levy changes; they instructed staff to return a revised preliminary budget at the next meeting (Aug. 5) so the board can vote on the preliminary figures before the statutory cutoff.