Carver County — Transcript
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Carver County and Waconia Partnership & Infrastructure Projects
Library Expanded Access Program
Trades 360 Program
Preliminary 2027 Budget and Levy
State and Federal Cost Shifts on County Budget
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Inspections Program
Mental Health Services Funding (Does Not Meet Criteria)
Land Use and Rural Building Eligibility
Votes (1)
County Administrator's Recommended Preliminary 2027 Budget and Levy
Dissent: Commissioner Hutterman voiced strong opposition to the 8.5% levy increase during the discussion phase, although no 'nay' vote was explicitly recorded for the motion to approve the preliminary levy.
Moved by Lynch [1:31:00] · Seconded by Anderson [1:31:17]
The County Administrator presented the preliminary 2027 budget, recommending an 8.5% levy increase. Key pressures included personnel costs, capital projects (e.g., $80M government center), and state/federal cost shifts, particularly concerning unfunded mandates in Health and Human Services and the SNAP program. A major point of debate was the proposed cut to the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspections program due to state funding reductions. Public speakers, including lake association representatives and a lead watercraft inspector, strongly advocated for retaining AIS inspections, presenting data on their effectiveness, economic benefits (protecting property values), and the high incidence of AIS on boats. They proposed creative funding solutions and highlighted existing local partnerships. Commissioner Hutterman voiced concern over the 8.5% levy increase's long-term affordability and suggested alternatives like reallocating a mental health reserve fund and creating rural building eligibilities for revenue, though these were met with questions regarding feasibility and impact. The board acknowledged the difficult choices and the ongoing uncertainty of state funding while setting the preliminary levy for further refinement before the final vote.
Notable Quotes (10)
Uh I would point out that all all the items here again are are those u called mandates. We're we're required to do them with one exception and that's at the bottom. Uh not sure if I have a pointer here. Uh you can see the 70,000 at the bottom eliminating AIS inspections. That that particular one we do have a choice.
The state and federal government has all sorts of great ideas and they pass laws and hopefully that law they they need somebody to uh perform the law they pass. And that's usually always the county. So they usually send then money for the county to perform that function. This is where we're having some trouble because they don't want to send the money.
Carver County has done 6,500 [inspections] between those two landings... Um, but we're actually on track to even beat those goals or like [clears throat] their inspections and their decontaminations.
About one out of every 40 boats that comes into the the launches are uh found to have uh aquatic invasive species of some sort. So this is not a minor problem that we're trying to prevent.
If we're not screening invasive species at the boat launches for a year, the ramifications of that trail off, I mean, it it I can't express it strongly enough. the damage is done and it's very very difficult to undo that damage.
You're investing your money wisely. You're investing 100,000 and you are getting back well over $700,000 in revenue every year if we don't have if we can prevent the spread.
This one should be easy for you. This one seems and I don't mean it's easy to go find another 70 or another 114. but on that size of a budget and for the decisions that you all have the liberty of making across that number versus the potential backlash from the public. This one does seem fairly simple from that size of a budget.
I'm a big fan of upstream and there's no better I mean this is an upstream program, right? Like like you said, the the more money we spend on the the front end is is less on the back end.
That does not meet criteria is a not classified technically as a cost shift. What happens is when someone is in our state particular state facilities and they do not meet criteria to for that level of care any longer. However, there is not another state bed... they do hold the counties in 100% responsible for that cost.
If you take that 8.5% that means your property tax on the county line will double every um eight and a half years. I'm not okay with that... I'm bringing solutions. You might not like them. I've got a bunch of others if you'd like to.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
A successful plan for Lake Waconia Regional Park that some fear an off-leash dog area would conflict with.
Survey of 419 students, identifying high demand for a dog park and sand volleyball courts.
On display at the Carver County Historical Society Museum for the nation's 250th anniversary.
Created the Minnesota Territories; on display at the Carver County Historical Society Museum.
A book by Jesse Cole about creativity meeting constraints in business, recommended by Commissioner Hutterman.
A document detailing one-time projects that has been part of the county's financial planning for years.
A critical document adopted by the board as part of its fiscal strategy, including planned capital replacements.