County Governments Will Deliberate on 2025 Budgets Tuesday

(KNSI) – Benton and Stearns Counties will both hold a Truth in Taxation hearing on Tuesday evening.

Stearns County expenditures are ballooning over $210 million, a growth rate of about 11%. The biggest line item increase comes in the highway construction budget. Over $9 million of that is for Townline Road. The artery goes from Sartell up to St. Stephen. Once the reconstruction is complete, it will be widened to 11-foot lanes with a six-foot shoulder.

Existing fund balances will take care of one-time expenditures, which is expected to keep the tax rate nearly stable. The overall levy increase is 4.1%. Additionally, Stearns County will consider Avivo to help administer the Diversionary Work Program. It helps caregivers find work quickly to avoid going on the Minnesota Family Investment Program, a more traditional welfare initiative. The Stearns County meeting begins at 4:00 with the Truth in Taxation hearing starting at 6:00 p.m.

Benton County will also see a large spending increase. The proposed operating budget is nearly $70 million, an increase of 27.9% from this year. To compensate, the tax levy will go up by 4.98%, about twice the traditional annual increase.

Much of the change is from an increase in the highway fund. The largest 2025 projects include a roundabout at the intersection of Mayhew Lake Road and CSAH 29, plus bridge replacements in Granite Ledge Township and Foley. Public Works Director Chris Byrd says the highway funding is not contributing to the change in the tax levy. It is covered by a variety of sources, from sales tax to the state and federal governments.

The Benton County Board of Commissioners will gavel in at 6:00 p.m. with the Truth in Taxation hearing one of the first items on the agenda.

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