Commissioners Reduce Price on Tax-Forfeited Properties with Some Opposition

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 16.

Final budget and property tax levy

Heather Olson, auditor/treasurer, noted recent revenue adjustments and the impact of contracts and reserve funds. The county maintains a strong cash reserve position—about twelve months of expenses.

In preparing the budget, the board and staff looked for opportunities to reduce costs and offset rising expenses.

Olson reported that the sheriff’s office made a $10,000 budget cut after a departmental review, though this savings was quickly absorbed by payroll increases. Aside from this adjustment, most of the budget pressure remained driven by previously negotiated labor contracts and increases in property assessments.

Additionally, $275,000 was drawn from reserves to balance the budget, which several commissioners described as a temporary measure rather than a true cut or structural solution. The board discussed the need for a longer-term strategy to identify sustainable changes or reductions, with several members emphasizing the importance of future planning and the risks of relying on reserve funds to cover continuous increases.

Multiple commissioners voiced concerns about the sustainability of ongoing budget increases, citing labor contract obligations and rapidly rising property valuations’ effects on taxpayers and small businesses. Some also questioned the fairness and methodology of property assessments, and how reserve funds are allocated between departments.

Approved a final property tax levy of 8.90% ($12,012,150) and a total county budget of $33,013,960. Kreklau and Kangas were opposed to both...

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