The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the 2026 budget at $139,677,354 and set the levy in the amount of $66,842,287. This represents a 6.49% increase from the 2025 levy.
Administrator Bruce Messelt said the budget and levey were developed over the past several months through staff meetings, board workshops and public input. County staff have been working diligently to analyze revenues and expenditures, seeking to accommodate growth as well as services.
He said a significant amount of the budget, nearly $900,00, is due to cost shifts from the state to the county. That amounts to about 1.4% of the increase. The state has also deferred another $1.6 million in cost shifts into future years.
The county is also being asked to absorb an additional $3.6 million in cost shifts from the state and $1.4 million in cost shifts from the Federal Government for 2027.
“Taken together, this alone will raise the local property tax levy by an additional 7.5%,” he said.
The impact of the increase equates to an increase of $5.33 per month on a $400,000 residential homesteaded property in Sherburne County.
The board also approved the Regional Rail Authority levy at zero dollars.
The tax levy accounts for 48% of the overall budget. The board also approved the 2026 non-levied budget with increases and decreases as follows Ditch Inspector $12,636 to $14,000; Law Library $120,216 to $110,627; Solid Waste $4,023,876 to $4,267,093; Jail Commissary $1,532,200 to $1,912,200; Enterprise Fund/ Federal Prison $21,823,384 to $23,456,909.
Salaries
After a 10-minute discussion, the board approved a 1.5% salary increase for 2026 for the commissioners. Each Commissioner weighed in on possible increases. Commissioner Gregg Felber first suggested a three percent raise, based mainly on the amount of mileage required.
Commissioner Andrew Hulse felt the county board should set an example because of the big levy increase.
“I don’t mind a small cost of living allowance,” he said. “I think it should be the lowest in the county, somewhere between zero and two percent.”
Commissioners Gary Gray and Raeanne Danielowski each said they were looking more for no increase.
After a failed motion at two percent, the board voted, 3-2 for a 1.5% increase. Commissioners Gray and Danielowski voted against.
The 2026 commissioners salary is set at $59,999.
Parks Agreement
The board approved an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sherburne Co. Parks and the Minnesota Land Trust for habitat restoration and enhancement work on protected park land.
In 2023, the County Board approved entering into an MOU with the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) to conduct habitat enhancement and restoration on protected lands within the Sherburne County Park System. The Amendment extends the original work plan of the MOU to include added project scope, not to exceed $305,000.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Approved the Eagle Lake Improvement District’s (ELID) annual report;
• Appointed Cindy Graham to the Great River Regional Library Board of Trustees for a term of three years from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028;
• Approved a contract extension with Minnesota Monitoring to provide electronic monitoring equipment and services for court-ordered juvenile and adult offenders.
• Approved a professional services agreement for 2026 with Ms. Stephanie Bruss to complete court-ordered evaluations for juvenile clients at $175 per hour for court testimony plus evaluation fees;
• Approved a solid waste license for OTI, Inc. in Elk River for the renewal of a Yard Waste Compost Facility for a five-year term ending Dec. 31, 2030
• Approved a modified and renewal solid waste license to Northern Metals Recycling, LLC in Becker for continued operations of a Processing Facility with a five-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2030. The modification includes the addition of a Community Recycling Center;
• Approved the final payment of $18,494.06 to Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC for 2025 Pavement Markings. Final contract amount is $319,371.95;
• Approved an agreement with the City of Becker for Cross-Country Ski Trail Grooming. The agreement specifies grooming services provided by the county to be compensated by the city in the amount of $85 per hour. The maximum fee for services per year is capped at $3,500.
• Appointed Butch Hass (primary) and Lila Spencer (alternate) as Livonia Twp. representatives to the Planning Advisory Commission from Jan. 2026 to Dec. 2028;
• Approved the Preliminary and Final Simple Plat of “Fun Farm,” consisting of one lot on an 8.03 acre lot of 72.54 total acres on 27th Street SE in Santiago Twp.
