The fiscal blueprint for Rice County's coming year, which includes a notable increase in its property tax levy, was set in stone by the Board of Commissioners this past Tuesday. With the 2026 budget being ratified, a swell of 8.51% over the previous year was observed, a hair under the preliminary figure that got the nod in September. As reported by the Rice County website, approximate calculations peg the budget at $103 million, trimming $12 million from its predecessor.
Upon a closer examination of the ledger, the levy's uptick is predominantly borne out of state cost shifts, a cutback in grants, and county aid, alongside the elections arriving in 2026 and climbing personnel expenses tethered to collective bargaining agreements. Despite the heftier figure, the county has engaged in considerable efforts to tighten its fiscal belt, particularly within Human Services, bracing for further cost shifts projected for late 2026.
Triggered by the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sharp uptick in administrative duties and related expenditures for programs like SNAP is anticipated, casting a forecasted additional load of $300,000 onto the county's plate in 2027, as per estimations laid out by County Administrator Sara Folsted. This revelation highlights the act's ripple effects on local governance and its demand for meticulous financial planning.
The 2026 budget isn't without its recourse to contingency funds—$2.2 million in reserves earmarked for special projects like infrastructure upgrades are now repurposed for tech enhancements in the Sheriff's Office and to procure an additional drone, slated to boost the efficacy of search and rescue operations. Amid these allocations, the budget also takes into its fold nearly $869,000 in funding designated for external agencies, including public libraries and senior centers, with insurance upticks for the Rice County Historical Society and Rice Soil & Water Conservation District standing alone as the sole augmentations in this sector.
In tandem with the wider budget approval, the property tax levy specific to the county's Housing & Redevelopment Authority was given the green light – destined to hold steady at its current standing of $232,467 for the year 2026. This arm of the budget sails through without an increase, indicating a degree of fiscal stability within this facet of the county's financial design.
