Okay. would you still uh please rise and say the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you for that. All right, this is time when we have public comments. I don't know that I see anybody in the room that might have a public comment. So, we'll move on to the agenda review and adoption. And can I get a motion? >> Second. >> Oh, wow. >> I got a motion by Anderson and a second by Lynch to approve the agenda. >> Uh, any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Approval. I think I think uh Commissioner Fehee moves to approve the September 23rd, 2025 minutes. And I got a second by Hudterman. Is that right? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any discussion on that matter? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Community announcements. Let's start with Commissioner Anderson. >> All right. Thank you, Chair Workman. Um, so since we've been together, I had an opportunity to uh visit our veteran services officer. Um, I am a uh I'm a mother of a veteran and we have Veterans Day coming up. So, I just wanted to learn a little bit more about um that offering and and it was a great opportunity to learn about how our county serves our veterans um in getting them the benefits they need. So, if you are a a veteran um find uh find your way to us and Steve and his team will help you. Um, I also was able to attend the sheriff's open house on Saturday. I got to the kind of the tail end of that, but uh had an opportunity to uh see the horses and um kind of kind of take in the emergency services piece and I'm just super grateful of our sheriff's department and all of our law enforcement for what you do to keep our community safe. I think this is an area where people have no idea what happens behind the scenes and all the work that's done. So, I just wanted um to to make a shout out to that group. also wanted to mention that um uh one of the uh managers of the lower Minnesota watershed district um uh the Carver County appointee has um resigned. Uh, and so I just wanted to um thank Lauren Salvado for her service on the lower Minnesota watershed district and let people know we have an opening and working with with Christa on um uh putting that online and letting people know. But if you are interested in serving on that, uh let me know and we'll have a chat. And it's been nine months. I've been doing this nine months. I know that because I had to reset my password again. Um, for all employees, doing it in the building is easier and better. So, um, I always like to think about what I've learned >> and during this period of time. And I think the big thing um these last three months uh with kind of getting more involved with legislative session um uh and what's happening and I'm glad that Mike is here today is what we have control over and what we don't have control over. I think a lot of people think because we're elected officials we have a lot more power and control than we than we really do. And uh so um we don't always have control over the laws that are made and and um who's serving at higher levels of government, but we do have control and influence over what happens in our community and um so that is that's what I've learned in my focus and I look forward to hearing more from you. That's all I have. >> Well, thank you very much, Commissioner Man. >> Uh yeah, thank you. I also had a chance to attend that sheriff's open house. It was fantastic. they brought my six and 10-year-old with. You can imagine how eye opening it was uh for them to take advantage of the jail tour. Um the jail's been standing for about 30 uh years and man, the myth busts that happened. It's not everything that you see in the media. And that was said by one of our tour guides. Um it's uh it's one of the cleanest jails in the area. Um it's 30 years old. We don't have any intention to build anything different or new. And I think a lot of that's tribute to um Reed Ashpool. Ben will take the torch and lead it as well. But the investment made um and in this Lisa talks about the things that she's learned. Um these are some of the things that we've done. We've invested in that in and some of our assets. It is one of our priorities. Um at least for the sheriff's office, um the jail looks great and uh the tour was made available to people. Uh we know we're in the midst of 2026 election focus. We're starting to see things heat up a little bit politically, but for these people to make themselves available and show and um some of the things level of contentiousness uh doesn't need to be. We can have some conversations by the dive squad was there too. So, we got to see somebody in the water using the dive squad equipment. Um, and the guys were lamenting about how much money they get or don't get uh for their for their equipment and they're paralleling that to the fire department. Um, so anyway, uh continue to support these folks. Lunch and learn uh county put on AMC put on a concrete ideas for solid economic development yesterday. Mark Jeffers led that conversation with Aken County. They do a great job uh Kate doing with AMC economic development workforce and housing. Uh housing is on a lot of people's minds. Um and uh it's not just uh um the conversation, it's the greatest impact of what we can do in our in our seats, which leads me to a number of us had an opportunity to be at the opening. Um and I'll leave it probably to Commissioner Fehee. Um but another ribbon cutting within the CDA. I think we're in um record times. Uh they they they've introduced more incremental units through the CDA in the last three years than probably ever in the history of of Cover County. So, a lot of momentum and it was fun to see a lot of people out there celebrating a lot of the struggles and challenges and and results that were delivered. Um, on the topic of what we've learned, but also what we've done, um, the county puts out a midyear review twice a year. So, that came out a couple months ago. I'm going to post that shortly. Um, there's just exceptional things and some of the things that have been added to that list since that list came out. The 4110 opened up. I know Commissioner Anderson myself had a chance to do it. Probably missed that one. Um, but but um, they did something called the first drive, which I've never done. It's kind of the equivalent of a ribbon cutting. Um, but we jumped in a bus and we we um navigated the roundabout for the first official time, I think it was. And I know that it impacts um Commissioner Anderson, myself's districts probably more than anybody. Three schools right there on the entry um had had extended interruptions. And to see that thing open um was fantastic. Um we talk a lot about deaths. We talk about gun deaths and other deaths. I think one of the things that we can do within our roles is reduce any of the traffic deaths and roundabouts certainly do that. I think we have nine active projects right now. roundabouts being built across the county. Bavaria 82nd also opened up for those that are tuning in. Um and then on the theme of you know not just what we've learned but what we've done. Um a lot of conversations happening about Highway 5 by the Arboritum from 41 west all the way downtown and beyond. Um one of the things I'm most proud of is is when we first started that project uh it was supposed to be a 28 months clo 28month full closure and uh through the partnership that we heard from Bolton and Bank the last time we were in the boardroom and others we've whittleled that down to six months. And of course, it's going to be a painful six months for business businesses and residents and people getting to and from school, but some of the conversations are is can we can we limit can we can we shrink that um because if we stage it um we're going to have a lot of our equipment there and can we save money. So essentially from the 28-month conversation full closure to six months, we've also saved about $12 million. Um and then some of us had a chance to see uh CAP CAP agency. Commissioner Anderson is our representative for that. They also opened and had a tour available. Um, it's been long for them to have official presence here. They now have a presence here for more services for our team. Uh, on a more fun note, I guess on some of these things, uh, Monarch is open as well. It's a single track bike track. It's just another amenity that we have in Carver County that people are coming to find. We don't we're not braggadocious about it, but there's a lot of people on mountain bikes and I know um um, our county attorney and others get on a bike once in a while. Um, there was 12, 15, $18,000 bikes at Monarch. There's a lot of money that's coming to Carver County and finding these trails. And I think they're finding ways to enjoy our restaurants and other things as well. Early voting is happening for um the referendum. I wanted to throw that out there. I did have a chance to attend the referendum meeting. Um it's uh Chanhassen um high school last week. Uh it's interesting when you're proactive in in your communication, there's not as much uproar. And I think the district did a nice job of communicating to us as leaders and to the community. There was I think six people that were non- staff that were at that meeting. And I think in years past it would have been full or a lot of people. I think they're doing a nice job of communicating whether you want to vote for it or you don't. Uh same thing with the safety public safety conversation. I think there was 20 non-residents or non- staff that were in that room and so proactively and our team does the same thing communicating to our residents. Had a chance to jump in the truck with Greg Pavitt and do some uh meal deliveries. Um he does a great organization called uh um not Better Society. What is it? Help me out. >> Humanity Alliance. >> Humanity Alliance. >> Yep. And so a couple times I try and get in the car to do it just to see from the front lines who are the people being served in our community. And I'm thankful and grateful that most people in our community are well taken care of um and they're able to afford their own meals. But there's some people that live in the shadows. And our team's doing a phenomenal job of serving those folks oftentimes quietly um and also through the form of the FRC which we'll hear a little bit more about in the coming weeks. But family resource center um we're we're the middle to the front of the pack and leading in that regard to serve the people that are living on little. Couple more things and I'll be done. Uh, another fun note, had a chance to go to the University of Minnesota softball game. One of our own, Sydney Schwarz, was first baseman. She came out of Victoria. Uh, fantastic player and I know that, um, Commissioner Lynch likes to talk about his wrestling guys. I'm going to probably cover the softball folks over the next couple years, but Sydney was performing at a very high level. It's great. Legislative priorities upon us, too. We're having conversations with all our lawmakers. So, if you have any inputs, uh, as those listening, staff or residents, um, as to what we think we should focus on, we are focused on a policy year this year, not a money year, but a policy year. Um, we have the luxury of having Commissioner Workman 10 years at the legislature, so he understands that. And then me, just a little grasshopper trying to learn. Um, but there's a lot of important things in a priority year, policy year. And then finally, uh, congratulations and a special note to Deb Barber. She's been our representative on the Met Council. uh the president of the chair of the Met Council has retired and she is now serving in the interim chair of the Met Council and so I think it's super important. We've got great relationship with Deb is our local rep. Maybe this is an opportunity to press a little bit harder as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Pey. >> Thank you, Chair Workman. Yes, we had the ribbon cutting uh last Thursday, October 2nd for Chesa Yards uh which consists of the renovation of the historic Erns house and three new homes uh with a shared four stall garage. These four single family homes are additions to the additions to the Carver County Community Land Trust and they're available for purchase for the eligible households. Uh great turnout. Commissioner Workman was there and Commissioner Uterman and also Commissioner Anderson attended on the tail end. But just a great event and to see that take place in downtown Chaza. Very fortunate. Um just some other community announcements. Uh the North Young America Lions, we have our breakfast this Sunday from 8 to 12 at the pavilion in NYA. Uh I'll be there. Uh we're making omelets to order blueberry pancakes and all the fixings. And then also October Fest in New Germany uh next weekend the 17th 18th uh camping, food, beer, and music. So if you need an additional fix of German culture, come on out to New Germany. And then uh various fall festivals are in full swing. uh Scream Town. Uh the weather's just been fantastic. So get out and enjoy. And then uh just a real quick update on Highway 212. Multiple lane changes now are taking place. So the progress continues and as always, just encouraging people to slow down. That's all I have, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you very much, Commissioner Lynch. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to talk about construction projects. As we talked about, uh the roundabout at Wakoneia Parkway and Highway 10 is now open. Um they're they're wonderful when they're open. We have to go through I always tell constituents we have to go through a a little pain to get long-term gain. They don't buy it, but it's uh what we do. Uh the Dakota Rail, I heard about the biking. If you want to have a a Dakota Rail and Highway 10, there's now a parking lot there. So you can swing in, park your vehicle, and uh take a bike ride, walk, do whatever you'd like. Uh people were parking along in the road for quite quite a while. So that's a major improvement. Um uh the football, if you guys want to go out and get a football fix, we have a lot of great football right here in water uh right here in Carver County. Uh the Wakonia team is doing very, very well. I believe they're 4-1. Mayor Luan is doing very, very well again. Uh Watertown mayor is uh doing very very well, too. They're competitive. Uh if you want to see soccer, uh go and see the Watertown Mayor girls soccer team. Uh they're putting up scores that sound like football scores and they're undefeated and ranked number one in state. They have several division one players there and it's uh they're pretty phenomenal to watch. Anyway, and then sadly uh Isabella Oscerson, she was a firefighter for uh the Idaho Department of Lands lost her life. So she is 26 years old, great kid from Watertown Mayor graduate and um great kids. So deepest sympathies to the Oscarsen family. Thank you, Commissioner Lynch. I don't have a whole lot. I I will uh work off of what Commissioner Anderson said about what can we do and what can't we do. Well, I'm here to tell you, uh, State Highway 41, 212, Highway 5, these are not Carver County roads. Um, but thanks to the uh initiative of this county board and previous county boards, we are getting those things completed because our good friends at MDOT don't have the wherewithal to help us out with that. uh they are helping us out uh but not take the lead. Uh as I've always said, Highway Five, which will be now only closed for six months, and I'm holding Commissioner Udman to that uh uh was not even in Mandot's 20-year plan. And so Carver County has stepped up with our arboratum area plan, and we uh we are getting all of that done. And it is painful. uh 41 intersection and five next year near me. I kind of well I didn't chuckle at 41 and 10. Uh but it didn't affect me. It does affect Utman and Anderson. Um I can just go another way. Uh but for a lot of people down there, all those round roundabouts and the construction were were incredible. I think there's an official ribbon cutting on that on the 28th. Correct. and I I will be there. Um Chanhasson did defeat Chaza. I wasn't able to make make the game uh 28 to 14. I was hoping for a tie for a couple of my favorite football teams. Uh beautiful night, warm night. Um so Chanhassen keeps the jug for the fourth year in a row. Uh, I know I noticed Chaza is at Wakonia Friday night. Might be a good one to check out. We don't You pretty much don't have to leave Carver County to uh experience just about anything you want in this world, I I would say. And you can do it safely and uh and economically. So, um uh I think that's about it from me. All right, we're going to move into the consent agenda. Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second, Mr. Chair. >> I got a motion by Anderson and a second by Lynch for the consent agenda. Is there any discussion on that? >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Just a couple uh comments. 2.6. Um I'm concerned uh uh that that there's a reported 3,500 homes coming in the next three to five years right on that corridor pushing just west of uh existing carbor and I'm concerned that that's going to limit our sewer and water capacity in the future. Um, and I'm excited that with partnership with uh Met Council that that we may be able to have conversations with the 2050 comp planning, but is my understanding is that we are near capacity when it comes to the eastern side of our water and sewer capacity. We have seven different projects across the state or the county that that need additional capacity. And if we trade uh capacity for homes versus industrial commercial um uh opportunities, it it may have a a significant impact when it comes to budgeting for the county. And what I mean by that is 20 years ago or so um maybe when you were there, Tom, I don't know, but um the state commissioned a study and found out that the average house that was under the the value of $450,000 did not cover its associated services. If you fast forward that now, that average house is about $700,000. And so if you're not building a house of $700,000 or more loosely or roughly, um you're not covering the taxes associated with the services, whether it's road, whether it's law enforcement, etc. And so the concern for me is is a lot of these houses are $650,000. Um and so you talk about cost shifts. We normally hear about cost shifts from the state and the federal government, but if you think about this, the decisions that are being made in the cities, there could be a significant cost shift if this were to happen uh back to the county in the form of services, particularly that law enforcement, HHS have to cover. So, I just raised the concern. Uh I don't think that there's uh there's ways that we can grow out of it by attracting industrial and commercial base. Uh but I just wanted to make that statement. So, if we're going to engage in the transportation study to accommodate 3,500 homes, it does come at a cost to us. The other comment I wanted to make is on 211. Uh I fully support the shift that we've been talking about for a while and applaud the team for doing so. We know that it's a challenging budget time, not only now, but particularly in 27 and 28. So, um the shift from deputy director to talent acquisition supervisor not only saves us money, but I think it gets um our resources where they need to be in preparation for what we're facing in the next couple years. So, I didn't want that to just pass through on a consent. Um, I just wanted to to recognize Carrie and her team for making that and I'm sure it'll come with some form of a pain pain to do so, but I think it's the right thing to do and fully support it. So, thank you. >> Very good. Okay, I have a motion and a second for the consent agenda. Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Our regular session contains exactly one I one item and that is the Micah legislative update and let's see Micah Minnesota intercount association used to be the metro right uh Mr. chair. Yeah. I mean, I think when the the organization was founded in the early 70s, it used to be metropolitan, but uh we're are 17 counties uh both metro and statewide right now. So, Minnesota Intercount Association. Um so, I'll just start off and if you've got questions along the way, feel free to interrupt me or uh a member of the team. We'll we'll have different people come up, but uh just feel free to just to say, "Hey, hold on. I want to talk about that a little more." Happy to field them as we go. Um, first, uh, as mentioned, we're a voluntary organization. 17 essentially are the most populous counties in Minnesota outside of Henipin and Ramsey. Um, and our focus is the statewide issues that affect our membership broadly rather than county specific issues like an individual capital investment project or something like that. Um, we'll have the team kind of introduce themselves as they come up. So, during session, we're at the capital every day. uh during interim we're we're meeting with uh county staff and also different legislative task forces and things of that nature. But uh at the capital we're in committee every day talking to legislators about county priorities, making sure bills are moving or trying to make sure some bills don't move. Um but we're really and we were talking about this a little bit before uh the meeting started. we're at our most effective when we're relating kind of personal county specific stories to uh delegations and trying to show like here's for example what some what this statewide policy you're talking about might mean in Carver County and the practical effects of it and then also trying to connect you and when that when those messages are coming from county commissioners as they did you know on a lot of cost shifts issues this year at the capital that's really when we're that that message can be really powerful um so we do provide weekly written updates from the capital. We provide an end of session report on what did and didn't happen. We um have an annual uh legislative forum. This year it's going to be in Sherburn County in probably January. And then we also uh have these monthly uh board meetings. Our board is made up of county commissioners. Um we have monthly administrator meetings and also the monthly policy meetings with different county staff whether they're engineers, public health, human services, finance directors. Um those types of meetings where we're really acting as a convenor and we provide a lot of value that way where your your staff can figure out, okay, what's going on in an NOA County? How are you dealing with this problem? You know, would that work here? And just trying to it's also a good way of figuring out issues before they uh bubble up. Another thing we really try to do is provide an analytical lens to our work. Um, you know, I I've uh worked in tax area for a number of times. So whether it's property tax comparisons, levy data, or economic forecast breakdowns, that's something that we really want to be able to provide to you. Um, so speaking of uh talking about taxes, I did want to um kind of provide a picture of what things look like in Carver County compared to the other Coller counties and uh the state uh as a whole and Henipin and Ramsey County. Um so what this is basically this is your net tax capacity share. Um so it's essentially what you're taxing with your levy where those levy dollars are coming from. This isn't uh so and this is why I can say what you can see here is that Carver County obviously more similar to the other collar counties but even more residential heavy if you're looking at the the uh tax capacity. >> Mr. Chair, if I may >> clearly we're heavy on bedroom community type living and as we talked before the meeting three of the fastest growing 25 cities in the state are in Carver County. um if you combine their tax base less than 2% of its non-residential. So it shows it here that that that green line will get bigger and bigger in the next 10-15 years if we don't do something intentional. Do you have access to quick data to show our tax rate per year for the next 5 years on residential versus non-residential? Because my understanding is is that we were low and now we're climbing a bit and then against to our peers it's really not compare. It's not fair fair to compare to the out outc counties. >> Yeah. If you're talking about are you talking about the last 5 years or the next 5 years? >> Both. It'd be great. >> Well, I mean look in the future. >> The last 5 years I think I can I think I can handle that then the next five years it would just it would it would just involve a lot of assumptions frankly you know it'd be a little bit more difficult. I mean if you want to say if you were to assume this then I can I can put something together. Um but I mean can certainly look at that that for the last 5 years and if you're like hey what I want to know is what these other five counties looked like and how it compares to them. That's something certainly I can do. Um but if you just I mean we should just trade emails and and then I can provide that. Yeah. >> Direct than ask our staff. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Yes. Um could you define what what are the co collar counties? >> Oh uh so the caller counties are ana Dakota Carver Scott and Washington. >> So the other five counties other than so when you talk about the seven counties those are the >> Yep. It's basically the seven county metro minus Henipin and Ramsey. >> Thank you. >> Yep. And I and like in case you're uh so these are kind of combinations of classes. Residential is both homestead and non-homestead. A land is homestead. House garage and one acre. Non-h homestead. Commercial industrial both commercial and industrial. >> Thank you. >> So and thank you. Uh you know we all sort of have the history and we appreciate the more finer details of that history. Uh, as the probably least patient of anybody up on this board, we want to know what you think about the future. Like, who's going to get elected governor? Uh, what's the deficit going to be? What's that? These are the things we really and they're the hardest. So, but uh uh so that's why we kind of pop out and want to get ahead of ourselves a little bit and it doesn't always work really well, but you can make stuff up if you want. So, >> okay. Well, >> we'd appreciate that. So, >> I I appreciate that note. Um I did want to talk a little bit about the assessment year 2025 and uh how these values change in Carver County. Um, one note is that the this is what's called a constant class estimate market value change. So it does not factor in new construction and it does not factor in classification changes. So if a property changes from commercial to apartment that value changes and can be reflected here. It's really just to show you like what a typical building in Carver from assessment year 2024 to assessment year 2025. Um, if you were to factor in uh new construction or classification changes, uh, Carver would be way higher on apartment value, the apartment value growth would be over 10%. Um, what I would say in the metro, obviously you can see when you look at the Coller County data or Henip and Ramsey in particular, apartment value pretty strongly negative growth for assessment year 2025. I think there's a little bit of a market value correction there. there was really robust apartment value growth from like 2019 to 2024. Uh we saw Henip and Ramsey uh the last couple years go a little bit more negative. There's a number of factors going into that and the collar counties kind of a little bit of a lagging indicator. Uh but if you were to look at include new construction, Carver would be above 10% growth. But otherwise, no numbers really like jump off the page here as especially alarming. They're they're relatively typical. Um, so next I just kind of wanted to show what the history of that net tax capacity share from the the earlier slide would look like if you look at the last 5 years, 10, 15, 20 years ago. Um, there's not huge drastic changes. There are some patterns here. Um, what I would say is, you know, that first slide was kind of a snapshot of a moment in time. This gives you the historical perspective. Um there's there's a few things like sometimes these are the big changes here are factors really far outside your control like between 2005 and 2010 you see a dip in the share that residential is contributing to your overall tax levy. Well, what happened between 2005 and 2010? The housing crisis, right? Um, in 2023, uh, some of you all may recall there was a really big spike in residential value statewide. It was 17.5%. In Carver County, it was 23.5%. Um, so even higher. That growth is baked in. It was a little bit more of a one-time system shock than, you know, we haven't seen 20% growth every year. Obviously, that would uh create a number of problems. So, the share that um of residential uh that Carver's contributing that residential is contributing to Carver's levy is a little bit lower than it was in 2023 just after that one-time system shock, but it's still higher than it has been um historically. Um the other thing I would just note, apartment value, uh really small um in 2005 it was 232 million in or sorry, in 2005 is 164 million in Carver. 2015 232 million 2025 809 million. So that's really significant growth. Of course you know it's still a really small share for reference residential value 17.7 billion in Carver in 2025. So but it is a significant growth over the long term. So I wanted to talk a little bit about county program aid and we'll have uh NY is going to in particular talk about some of the cost shifts that were considered at the capital in 2025. Obviously, a lot of different areas of the capital were facing cuts. Um, and taxes was no exception. There was a $20 million proposed cut to county program aid from the Senate this year that did not become law. There was the repeal of the local government cannabis aid, which was basically saying we'll give cities and counties a share of the gross receipts tax generated from cannabis. That got repealed before it really even went into effectively. Um, but I think Carver is really interesting when it comes to talking about county program aid. And that's because you can see, oh, there's a little bit of a spike in 2026. Obviously, there's a big spike in 2024. Well, that was because the legislature increased county program a by 80 million. Um, this year that spike is with a flat appropriation. There's no change in the CPA appropriation. The increase is nearly $800,000 for Carver County. So, what's going into that? That's the first part of this question, right? Uh there's the need side of the formula, which is uh based on the share of your population that's 65 or older, the share of your population that's receiving SNAP benefits, and the share of serious crimes that are are committed in the jurisdiction. Um you know, Carver is aging at a slightly higher rate than the the whole state. Uh the 65 plus share is going up for everybody. Essentially, it's going up a little bit faster for Carver than everybody else. And Carver's got a significant growth, though still over a low base when it comes to number of households receiving SNAP. It was over 15% from 21 to 23, which is one of the higher growth rates in the state. But really, that was only about $120,000 of the uh increased aid is from those changes. Most of that is from the tax base equalization aid. So about 680K of that growth which is really again most probably about 65 to 70 counties are seeing their CPA decrease in 2026. So this is this is unique. Um most of the growth is from the tax base equalization aid because taxbased growth and Carver uh comparing 2022 to 2023 wasn't as high as the rest of the state. So, I think a really natural question would be, well, it's gone up a bunch this year. What about next year? Right? I mean, uh, and I I can't tell you exactly what's going to happen next year, but I can tell you that. So, um, that 27 number, barring any law changes, um, the tax base equalization age for Carver in 2026 is 4 million. It literally cannot fall below 3.8 8 million and uh 2027 because the formula says you've got to retain at least 95% of your tax base equalization aid. So I don't know whether your aid's going to go up or down the following year, but it's not if it does go down. It's not going to go down by as much as it might not basically is what I can't tell you for sure. >> If I take what you said and just bring it to my level is >> sorry. Yeah. >> The underlying factors that are driving this number higher are not favorable for us. So the more money we get, the less favorable the underlying factors are. Is that actor? >> That's 100% accurate, right? Like it's great that you're getting more uh in aid because of this tax base equalization aid, right? But that's I mean Carver still receives below average uh CPA as I've got up there compared to the rest of the state. But the your tax base growth isn't as high as the rest of the state for the most recent year of the formula. Like that's not good, right? Um, so but at least I guess is what I can say. >> Well, sorry, Mr. Chair. >> And so let's go kind of go back to the utterman premise on residential is a drag, commercial is not. And I'm not sure that these graphs bear that out. um you know, commercial property is having a lot of trouble. Uh certainly inside of the collar counties, uh my daughter's international company, the company she works for, it's not her company, um is moving over to wherever Cargill has their offices in Hopkins from the Normandale Towers. And that Normandale Tower just sold for 94% of it less >> than its value. I mean, is that where Carver County maybe that's not a discussion for Micah, but um maybe for a a meeting later with people who know some of how how this is all affect. Commissioner Unerman is I was a very young city council member and I was scratching my head about this formula nonprofits untaxed properties churches commercial residential a what what's the magic number um you know presumably if if uh this board said hey we're not going to let any city build another house a residential property in Carver County we're going to move only to commercial property and then that'll fix our our uh our levy. Our levy will be full because commercial is going to be more valuable, etc. And I'm not sure that that math uh adds up and so or or it can for a while. Like I said, look what's going on in Bloomington, what's going on in downtown Minneapolis. Um uh so I I I guess I'm just bringing that out because Commissioner that's been something on my mind for 30 years is what do we do and how do we do it? Couldn't it couldn't we do it better and just say we're not going to have any more houses built because they don't they cost us money and then we're just going to build commercial properties all over Kyber County. That doesn't necessarily mean it's true. I'm assuming so. But the commercial is such a small part of it if 70 75% of our taxable is residential. Correct. >> Right. Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> I'm not sure I came to a specific point there, but but I but but it it's not something that's brand new. It's been something I mean, again, St. City of St. Paul has a a big problem because nonprofits, the Catholic Church has so many properties that aren't taxed that that it creates a a unique situation for them and probably Ramsey County because they can't tax the cathedral and and so uh but it so it's been something no nobody ever seems to do anything about it, but I think I think these graphs bear it out that this has sort of been going on for for decades and and it doesn't seem the math changes. So >> Mr. Chair, if I may because yes, I do believe a healthy tax mix is the answer and I do think that that if we look out there's predictive modeling, we can use AI or other things. I think we're getting to a place where we look out further in our future when it comes to budgeting not only our own things but in the future as well. But easy math is is that um commercial and industrial properties over time pay more in tax pound-for-pound and use less services. So if we materially alter the mix and our residential mix goes up as it looks like in the next 20 years will happen through the growth of Victoria Carver and Wakonia which would largely be bedrooms. house shift that we'll experience in the next 20 years won't be what we saw in the past because Chaska and and um Chanhassen have largely driven that tax mix which has been 20% or so of industrial and commercial. If we look out the next 20 years where the growth is going to come from if it's all coming from bedrooms we as a county will have a budget conundrum that we should just talk about today versus 20 years out and I'd be fully in support of doing aggressive modeling of what the future looks like. We can use your crystal ball or mine or or other technology that's out there, but to ignore it is to say in 20 years, whoever's going to follow us up here will have to to deal with it. And if there's a material shift, like 3500 bedrooms, three people per house, that's 10,000 more in population. That's creeping up into double digit change of our overall population. That's material. And we know it's coming. We know where the trends are coming. And what can we do to change it or alter it or to keep it at a similar mix than what we're at right now? Simply, we can zone for it. We can spot zone all the way up down 212 212 for commercial, industrial, some residential. We can control that or we can have it happen to us. And largely, we say, let's just punt to the cities. That's what the cities do. That's what the cities do. We have the jurisdiction for 85% of 212 from Carver all the way out to the edge of the county. That's within the county's jurisdiction. And if we simply zone for it, we can unlock farmers that are getting paid, I don't know,$8 to $10,000 an acre. If they put in a little bit of water, a little bit of sewer, a little bit of investment, in the notsodistant future, that land could be worth 90 to $100,000 a year. And these are the same farmers that are saying 20 years ago, my next generation is going to farm and they're going to take over the farm. Now they're saying the next generation isn't going to take over. And if they do, it's not going to be a full-time living. And so we have solutions if we want to face the problem. And the problem isn't today. It's in the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. And I think the answer is is we need a healthy tax mix. We know what's coming in these big cities where their growth is tren trending and we know commercial and industrial carries more of the tax load takes it away from the residential make it more affordable for young families that your data will also show that as our 65 plus grows faster than any else in the state. Our 18 less is shrinking which is even more concerning over 20 years. Not today but it'll impact the enrollment in our schools. It'll impact the vitality and the health of our community. It'll attack our workforce. And so we can look at it at a myopic one-year view or we can look at it in a 20-year view. So I think we're saying the same thing. It just hasn't presented itself because Chesca and Carver were on or Chesk and Chanass were in buildout mode and now they're pretty much built out. >> So well I'll make one final comment and then we can get back to Micah. Um but you know the fact of the matter is we know the trending from the core of the metro to the first ring to the second ring. I knew farmers in Edina that made a lot of money to develop and they brought their money out to Carver County now. I think it's the Thrivant building sold four or five years ago for 240 million and now just sold for 6 and a half million in downtown. That's not a good trend. My kids are thinking about selling their house in South Minneapolis. I said, "Sell it and buy an office tower. I'll take three of the top floors because it's cheaper than a house. So the the you you we know the trending. We know the farmers are going to we know the farmers are patient as you roll the carpet out. And I just don't think that there's a magic that we're going to we're going to do something different. And of course you need the mech council participation pipe isn't cheap free or other and to go down 212 and develop that out and and it's all going to be done it those markets are like this also. So anyway you're listening to our debate and we appreciate it and at some point if you just say workman you're right all the time uh I think we >> I don't know if I have that in my notes here. Good. But but it's it it's that debate and I and I I enjoy it obviously. Um and and uh cuz Commissioner may be the least patient, which is a good thing. Uh we like his impatience uh on here. And how do we do something a little bit better than we are a county without problems, a lot of problems compared to 86 other counties. So, but still, how do we do it better? And we make it better and do it differently if we have to and because why just put up with the same same stuff and so and so back to you with the legislature and how they're going to help us. >> Uh yeah, on that ominous note, um I'm going to turn it over to uh Amber uh to go over transportation. >> Great. Good morning, Mr. Mr. Chair and fellow commissioners, my name is Amber Bakis and this was my first year representing Micah at the capital on transportation issues. It was a pleasure to do so. Um I also want to give kudos for your great staff. Lyndon Rogue Jent has been a tremendous resource to me um during the session and really appreciate all the time you give him to help us lobby legislators as well as be involved in mind's technical advisory committee on the greenhouse gas mitigation and assessment. So really a tremendous resource. Um so just wanted to give an update um on some things that have happened since session. Um if you recall it was a tough year for transportation um with the um pending six uh billion dollar deficit in the outy years. Uh the transportation committee had a big general fund cut to have to reach when you consider that it receives very little general fund money. Um over the next four years the committee had to cut $248 million um from its general fund dollars. Um and that's over a third of what it receives from the general fund. Um this of course impacted transit as well as roads and bridges as this uh legislature chose to slow down uh the um dedication of the sales tax on motor vehicle parts to the trunk highway fund. So that results um in a cut to the county state aid roads of $8 million um in the outb. But there were a few bright spots in terms of new funding that I just wanted to touch base on. Um we were successful in getting new dollars into the local government road wetland replacement program. Um that's a program that is administered by the board of water and soil resources so that when you are um reconstructing a county road um the Bowser the board of water and soil resources is responsible for mitigating any impacts on wetlands and saving you the cost of doing so. That program has been chronically underfunded. But this year we were able to secure $8 million in new funding for the program. $3 million from the general fund um which was a pretty big success considering this money came from the transportation committee which typically doesn't fund Bowser. Usually the environment committee does. Um so that $3 million in cash is going to allow the agency to purchase credits on the private market to help overcome the deficit in credits. um as and then there was the $5 million in the bonding bill also allocated for this program which will allow the state to um build the new wetland projects which will generate many more credits to help keep that program solvent so your roads can be built without delays in the permitting process when dealing with wetlands. Um, the bonding bill also was great for transportation and local governments in particular in the fact that there was considerable new funding for the local road improvement program as well as the local road, excuse me, the local bridge rehabilitation program. For the local road improvement program, there was $42 million allocated um, which you as counties can use to help pay for the local share of trunk highway projects or improve routes of regional significance. Um, and because of that funding, Mandot started taking applications um, for eligible projects as of September 16th. And if you have something in the works, I'm sure Lyndon probably does, um, you can make those applications through December 12th. Um, but counties are eligible for 35% of those funds. Um, metro counties, including Carver, are 25% and, um, the maximum grant received is $ 1.5 million. Uh so hopefully you will be able to take advantage of that to helps offset some of your transportation costs. >> Um looking forward um we're really going to look at 2026 as a year to sort of reset and reframe the narrative. >> Um something else we faced in 2025 was a lot of anti-road and anti-county sentiment. Um this came from transit and environmental advocates and some of this um rhetoric was bought into by some of the key Democrats on the transportation committees and they really were going after metro counties in particular. Um there's a narrative that metro counties aren't doing what they're supposed to do in terms of spending the transportation advancement account dollars that were enacted in 2023. Um those dollars are supposed to be used for road reconstruction as well as active transportation and transit. there's a lot of misinformation that metro counties aren't doing that and um that sentiment led to the uh push to try to take your metro sales tax dollars during the special session. Um so we really want to spend 2026 um just level setting and reframing the narrative to talk about what counties are doing, especially metro counties, is that they are spending these dollars the way they're supposed to be doing. Um and also just talk about the fact that you have to have a good road system to deal with transit and to have places for people to ride their bikes and to walk. Um so all of that is going to be um part of our initiative going forward. U Micah will be working with um AMC on this as well as the transportation alliance to sort of just reframe the debate so we're not um fighting against these proposals that are so ownorous for counties in terms of attempts to steal transportation dollars. I I've heard that the um the house chair of the committee would again try to like to take your metro sales tax dollars to give to the Met Council for bus rapid transit. Um and we want to push against that because you guys are doing a much better job of delivering those projects that matter to your constituents and the Met Council is um >> Amber Amber with that uh how much has been spent on the light rail going to Eden Prairie and do you have an opening date for that? Um I believe it's now 2027 or um and I think it's over $3 billion. So yes, case in point, >> which it was astounding. I mean I know uh the Senate Transportation Chair Scott Dibble is no fan of the M council. Um and he thinks they don't do a good job of overseeing their dollars. So I was very surprised that he went along with the deal to give the Met Council more money in light of that. So yes, your point is well made, Commissioner. >> Thank you. Um but there were some other um ideas that were part of the Senate transportation bill that are going to be back on the table um that we want to try to fight against. Um and those are listed here. As I said, besides trying to raid your dollars, um there were also um efforts for the state to dictate the state a design standards for local roads that we weren't so excited about. We still want counties to have a voice in that and determining what works for them. Um there were also efforts to take some of the constitutionally dedicated trunk highway dollars and allow them to be spent more on transit. Um which again we don't think is the right thing to do considering there's so many existing needs on the um current road and bridge system. So uh we will continue to be an advocate on your behalf and so hopefully tamp some of these things down and uh put us in the driver's seat to uh do more for you as you deliver your county transportation projects. I'd be happy to answer any other questions if you have them. >> Any questions? >> Nice. Well, I will turn it over to my colleague Nancy then. Thank you so much. >> Thanks, Amber. Good to see you. >> Morning. >> I knew Amber when she was very young. She's merely just young now. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair and Commissioners. I'm Nancy Celeleski and I represent Micah in the area of public health and human services and it's great to be here with you this morning. Uh going into the 2025 legislative session, all of the uh county organizations, Micah, AMC, MAXA, had the same uh top three HHS priorities, and I'm happy to say that we made progress in each of them, and you're going to be very familiar with all of them. The first is technology. Um the legislature did end up putting $35 million into SSIS. Um which along with the $10 million from last year gives us the $45 million which we will hopefully now be able to draw down those federal funds and get get going and hopefully be able to say goodbye to the green screen technology um at some point. I would just say that we were hoping for this to happen more quickly than it's likely to. Um it looks like the RFP and um is not going out till next March. So, it looks like there's going to take some time here and this is going to become this is going to complicate our work on the African-American Family Preservation Act, which we can talk I'll talk about a little bit later, but the money is there. We are happy to see that and uh hopefully we're moving forward. The next item is min choices. We brought a um min choices reform bill this year. Um and there were a number of things that did pass for those folks whose situations are not changing from year to year. they have to sit through these very long um reassessments each year, which is is hard on the client. It's hard on on your your staff. For those folks, again, we we can now do an abbreviated assessment or reassessment for three three years in a row, and then that has to be followed by a full reassessment at that point. The client can request a full reassessment at any time if they so desire. The other thing that they are allowing us is to be able to uh use remote reassessments more frequently. And then verbal attestation replaces the required reassessment signatures upon the initiation of the men choices reassessment. They did modify uh assessor qualifications. A person only has to have a two-year degree now to be able to complete to to work on um men choices assessments. And finally, DHS is required to create a dashboard which will list or or um point out what the assessment completions uh rate is. The second item is priority admissions direct care and treatment. Another issue that's been along around for a long time. A few years ago, there was a legis the legislature created a um priority admissions review panel. And this was in reaction to the 48 hour rule where a person that's sitting in your jails kind of gets pump, excuse me, bumped to the top in terms of getting access to AMRTC, the NOA Metropolitan Regional Treatment Center. they put a pause on that 48 hour rule and wanted this priority uh readmissions or admissions review panel to do the work and come up with some recommendations over the last couple of years. Uh there were a number of county folks that sat on that on that review panel and there were a number of things uh recommendations that came from there that the legislature did adopt this year. Um the first is that $20 million is putting is being put into the AMRTC campus that will restructure or redo the Miller building on that campus. And then along with that, they put $55 million in into the bonding bill that passed late on the one day special session date special session that we had. So that $75 million brings um uh will um generate 50 50 new beds at AMRTC. So we're happy to see that happen. A couple of other things that did not happen relative to this I I do want to mention is for the last two years counties have had a reprieve related to the county cash share on those uh folks that are committed as mentally ill and dangerous are waiting a bed in one state operated facility and going to another AMRTC to St. Peter as an example. Um we for the last two years uh did not have to pay into that fund. Unfortunately, that did sunset on July 1st. So, counties are estimated to be paying $14 million in the first bianium and 18 in the second bianium. And then finally, we all know that in addition to state resources, community resources are also needed. That did not not happen. So, we're still it's a work in progress, but certainly progress was made. I just want to highlight a couple of the public health uh priority issues. The legislature did put um significant money into the emergency medical services. This is the ambulance services which have had issues particularly in rural Minnesota over the years. They put $16 million into the ambulance operating deficit grant program. And then they also created a rural EMS uncompensated care pool with dollars coming from both the general fund as well as the healthcare access fund. Last year, 2024, the legislature did cut u public health um grants to counties and and tribes for prevention relating to cannabis. They cut it by uh $10 million last year. That's for a bianium. This year they did backfill that by $7.2 million per bianium. So that was partially uh backfilled. The next item I would mention and is, you know, one of the hugest items is this colorful slide that's in your packet and that deals with cost shifts. Um, it became very clear early on that counties would be in a defense mode on on proposals that came from all three. The House is in on the left starting then the Senate governor and then the gold column on the right is what the legislature came up with in in the conference committee. I want to say thank you to all of you and your staff. it was all hands on deck getting that message out that these cost shifts would have significant um impacts to the property taxpayers in all all counties. And so what we ended up with, if you look at the bottom totals on the on the bottom, you'll see that the gold column reflects pretty pretty significant reductions in those cost shifts. >> Um I do want to point out a couple of things. um the disability waiverss, which is that negative number, the $89 million, that is savings that the that the state is projecting is going to come out of a health savings, cost savings reform uh work group. So, there's a a group that's been appointed. It's a huge group. There are 30 members on it. It's filled with advocates and and others. Um in addition, there are six counties county county members on that group, and we'll talk about that as well. But that $89 million if they're they're looking to this group to find savings that the state has not been able to find within their own systems. So this will be revisited in the event that that doesn't happen. Did want to point that out. The next number is that 14 million8 again is the mdash share that we did pick up. I would mention the flat reimbursement in 2829 that $18 million that is something that came out. Um, Senator Abler and others are looking at the min choices reimbursement process and they are wanting DHS to come up with a different methodology than the than the current one that we're using. So, they are booking savings in 2829 of $18 million. So, we'll be watching that carefully as well. So, in terms of what uh didn't happen, there had been proposals for increase into the state state offender um I'm sorry, the Minnesota sex offender program. That did not happen. There had also been a proposal that we pick up withdrawal management services. That did not happen either. Moving on to 2026, um we are in the process of working on our platform um with with all of you and your staff. And I would say the number one thing that's risen to the top is the act. This is the African-American Family Preservation Act. There were no changes made this year on that. We did talk to a number of legislators including the authors of this from 24 saying that we're really concerned that counties aren't going to be ready for this and can we possibly look at some sort of uh either a delay or let us um let us uh phase into this process. There was no appetite to make changes this year because there is a work group that's been meeting and they wanted to see what the results of that work group would would be before making any changes terms of what that group looks at like uh Otterchell County Curt Mortonson uh Commissioner Curt Mortonson is on the committee Washington County Carla Bigum and they join uh Angela Conley of Henipin and Joan Lee of Poke. They are to have interim an interim report by June January 1st of 2026. I've been following this group quite a bit and I can tell you that it's moving really slow and there's a lot of concern about the other 85 counties being ready. Henneath and Ramsey are currently part of a pilot pro program and we are supposed to be learning from them and my understanding is that information is not going to be available for some time. So that January 1st, 2027 date is looming upon us and and um we're going to be having conversations about that this year at the legislature. The number one thing is funding of course and then uh we're we're advocating for the state doing the case reviews as opposed to us and and possibly like I said looking at a phase in etc. So working with different legislators on that. >> Before you move off that, can I ask a question? Has your team or anybody on that working group or otherwise looked into I like that you shorten it to the act because we hear um Heather talk about it and she rattles it off very long, but has anybody looked into the um potential being discriminatory and potentially illegal? I think people rush to fund it. I think people rush to say how do we implement it? But has anybody looked at if it's even legal? Feels a little discriminatory the way that they have it labeled. >> Mr. Chair and Commissioner, not to my not to my knowledge. Um with regard to the act. yesterday on the call uh the remembers saying that we can't call it that now either because it's the law, it's not the act. It's like oh my gosh. >> I might urge your team to to look at it and I'm not taking a position as our our full county but I know my peers in other counties have >> you know ttoed against it because because of the language that's that's present. Um but there's been a lot of people in that have asked the question. I just I just raised it publicly. Is it legal? Is it discriminatory? and should we even have to jump through these hoops to make something like that happen. Our team will be prepared to comply with the law. But I think that maybe there's an opportunity for an organization that has 17 members to maybe pull the members to see if it's worth um taking a look at. >> Thank you. I'll take that back. >> Thanks. >> Well, and to go a little bit further, wasn't that a big part of the big 1400page bill that pieces of our being found unconstitutional at the moment? Anyway, >> Mr. Chair, that is correct. was in that that bill from last year. Um the next item I would mention is the LTSS advisory committee. This is a long-term services and supports uh advisory. Again, this is the the group that's look looking to find $90 million in the state system. We again have six county uh folks on that committee. Micah's appointments are Commissioner Barb Wman Brekie from Scott, Nicole Hansen who is the Ottertale County Administrator, AMC appointed Sterns County Commissioner Terrell Clark and Alex Kotsky or Coatsy who is the Ramsey CFO and then Maxa has a member from both Henipin and Pine County. So we have folks in midsize counties, uh, rural, suburban, and and urban counties. And again, they are to find money by 2829. The next item I would mention is federal interactions, which are we're still waiting through um, as you all are as well. You know, preliminary numbers from the department indicate that the state's going to lose$ 1.4 4 million billion with a B dollar dollar dollars in federal healthcare funding over the first four years. You're all aware of the work requirements that are now necessary under both SNAP and uh Medicaid. And then the the eligibility now is being moved from once a year to twice a year. So we know that this is going to have an impact on our staff. There is a group that the Senate has put together that's um reviewing these changes coming from uh the federal government. It's being led by uh Senator Lindseay Port from Dakota and I think she is part of Scott County as well. And then Carla Nelson is a Republican lead from Mstead County. And then I did want to mention there are a couple of other things that have come up and that is again this priority admissions task force. We're not sure what that what the recommendations are going to be but we are going to be looking to try and get that exemption again for those folks that are MIND. we have no ability to transfer those folks from one state operated facility to another and we just don't think that that should be a county responsibility. And the other thing is um step down facilities. We want in our in our local communities. We want to see some some uh investment there as well. And finally, we're always hearing about unfunded mandates. There's a number of them and um as you're all very much aware. So, we're kind of putting together a list on that as well. Finally, I just want to also call out your staff. I work closely with Heather Goodwin and she's always um just a phone call away very much present at at Micah meetings and want to thank you for allowing her to participate as much as she does because she's a very valuable person in our committee indeed. >> Chair just one more question. >> Um I I agree maybe we should maybe we get a bargain by not paying her by the hour. >> You get a lot we get a lot out of her. Um before you started um I've had this rolling list. I think the biggest cost facing the county now and in the future, you hit on all of them. Unfunded mandates, mental health, including beds and heads. Talent pipeline is part of that. System inefficiencies, you hit on hard. Um, and then protection for law enforcement. They're trying to do their job, but sometimes it's hard to do it because there's so many incumbrances, whether it relates to mental health or other costs. You mentioned 35 to $45 million for the modernization of SSIS, which you've been talking about forever. Um, I think Nathan and your team presented something, was it a year ago in Shakipi? um that showed these screens that um we're not hiring people to to manage MS DOSs. We're hiring them to to help people. Um and it just seems so slow moving. Carla's, you know, been an advocate in this space. So, I'm not I'm surprised to hear that they're moving slow in their committee. But I'd make the plea to say the state's shifting things to the county because they know we can do better. They're shifting things to the county through um COVID because they said co county can get those dollars to where they need and the most closest to the need. So, I'd make the appeal to say if there's 35 to $45 million floating around that doesn't have a home and there's no intention to spend it in a meaningful way, let us pilot it here. We're one of the more sizable counties in the state, 11th largest and growing. So, we're big enough, but we're small enough and nimble enough. And whatever we learn, we can lend back to the larger system. If you offer it to the Ramsies and the Henipins in the world, they're just too bureaucratic to make the money work. And so I think a big chunk of that money would be best spent with Heather with our team to pilot things like what would it look like to have a a passport if you will of everybody that we serve to have all their information one place and then it feeds like an octopus all these other systems right maybe that's a good first step so anyway my appeal is is I think we're well positioned with our current team and leadership and and our knowhow and our proof of what we've been able to do to use those dollars effectively if there's a window to advocate for that as well. >> Thank you. Yeah, those dollars have been appropriated to DHS and you know, I know that they're working on this, but again, the last um document I saw was I think March before the RFP goes out. So, it's going to take some time clearly, but >> yeah, >> thank you. Um I also on the modernization um and thank you Commissioner Udman for your comments. It would be remiss for us to not mention that our very own representative Jim Nash really helped um get that the the money that we did get and so grateful for that. Um I also know that sometimes legislators and politicians in general think, okay, that's enough money. It's done. And um and and we've got a ways to go. But um I did want to I did want to shout out to to um Representative Nash and the bipartisan work that went into getting that um money. So So thank you for that. Also um part of the reason that system is um broken is because our overall system and process is so complicated. And um so that's a piece of it as well is is how do we streamline that system? Um, so and you are right about our very own director Goodwin and um I'm grateful um that we have her and we call her uh part of Carver County and um and I'm looking forward to partnering her with her in the in the future on um some of these pieces and and making sure we continue the good work. >> Mr. Chair and uh Commissioner, I Yes, I thank you for calling out Representative Nash. She was very much much part of it and as you indicated, it was very bipartisan. It's it's not a partisan issue. We all all want to help people and in the end it it um it was a good good piece of work. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. But work not done. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, chair and members of the board. My name is Amelio Lamba. I am a public safety and corrections policy analyst for the Association of Minnesota Counties and in partnership with Micah as anformational resource in this space. So, looking back to last session, uh I like to frame it as maybe a bit of a less consequential year for public safety and corrections. uh looking at the full picture with the with the proposed cost shifts and cuts in other spaces. Uh we actually did have a positive target of around 107 million for the committee combined with judiciary to spend. However, uh it was a bit of a fallacy that money was set aside for our state agencies, the department of public safety as well as the department of corrections wi which both had pretty extensive operating deficiencies and uh operating adjustment requests. um which which left really little money for other you know one-time asks or other on-timegoing asks. Uh both agencies had attributed that to finally getting up to to full complement for staffing. uh more specifically on the DOC side uh that they finally had gotten up to full staffing with their labor contract settlements from the previous years and that that gap was never fully funded by the state and in order to continue operations uh they were needing some additional funding which I think we all saw at the 11th hour with the closure of the Still Water Prison and that decommissioning to begin uh immediately. So there was some deals and workarounds to ensure that the public safety space was shured up for our state agencies but that left our counties with very little. Uh we pushed both in conjunction with Micah and AMC uh for full funding of our community supervision formula. As many of you are familiar, we received 143 million back in 2023. That was still about at the time $13 million short. That number has now been adjusted as years uh have changed and our probation population has adjusted. Uh and so unfortunately since we were unable to given the budgetary constraints uh get full funding in this last session, we did pivot a little bit. uh we were able to achieve a 2-year delay in the collection of supervision fees for counties uh which was part of an agreement uh when the law originally passed that counties would do away with those supervision fees and we would be fully funded. Uh we pressed really hard on them and said hey we are two years past uh being fully funded and we are not there yet. We at least need some level of a reprieve. So uh we pushed really hard and pivoted uh to ensure that our counties were still able to have that revenue tool in their pocket. uh we still are looking forward into the future to see if there's a possibility for those supervision fees uh that removal of the supervision fees to potentially be repealed. Uh you know, the state budget picture isn't looking uh amazing just yet. And so I do think we have some leverage there. Uh additionally, we were also able to institute a three-year averaging into our community supervision formula. This was this was really critical because we do in expect that trends will continue downward for our probation population. Uh this is due in part to a lot of things at the legislature that they've done in recent years. Five-year caps on many probation sentences among many other things uh that are going to likely continue to taper off until we finally balance out at a uh at a level that we're unsure of as as of this point. Uh but just from last year to this year, we had seen uh our pop our probation population decrease, which subtracted about $3 million from what we were needing to be full funded. Um, so we're we're looking forward to keeping that three-year average in there to just ensure that any stability and budgeting is a little bit more predictable, that there's uh we're smoothing out the peaks and the valleys for our counties to be able to adjust to a little bit better. Um, looking forward into the future here, what are some some things that did pass uh that we're looking at? The Larry Hill Medical Reform Act uh had passed last year in the omnibus bill. Uh, you guys may be familiar with it. Uh there's provision in there that relates to medication administration within our jails. Uh the Minnesota Sheriff's Association has been leading on this. They put forward a lawsuit with many other plaintiffs uh against the Department of Corrections in the state um uh due to this law. The challenge with this law was that medical providers within your facilities were needing to contact the original prescriber of a medication in order to get any adjustments made. And now that's a bit challenging when you have someone in right in front of you looking at their current medical state and you being unable as a licensed medical provider in the jails to make that real-time decision. And if it's a weekend, maybe some difficult timing, you're not able to get a hold of them. Uh, as of yesterday, I was told that a memo went out from DOC Inspection um that said uh that had that they had a different interpretation of the law and that's what they were going to go forward with that you just have to make a good faith effort to contact the original prescriber. Um, which could be two voicemails. Uh, that I'm still verifying a little bit. I know in some areas yesterday uh they some counties yesterday they said that their providers were no longer uh looking to pull out of their agreements. But, you know, it still is just a difficult situation and one that we would like some changes made on uh in this upcoming session. That in tandem, there's, you know, the DOC rulemaking authority uh with their delegated authority from the legislature. Uh have a bunch of proposals we're keeping our eyes on uh and passed uh just earlier this year. There were uh proposals to separate the duties of a dispatcher and a jailer uh that they could not be combined into one. Now, that was difficult for a lot of our counties uh that don't have the resources to split that. Uh that essentially would double staff in some spaces. So, we pushed back on that a lot and we were able to get them to back down on that. So, we're keeping our eyes out for any proposals that might make impacts of that sort. Um, one thing that did pass in 2024, so two sessions ago, was the raising of the age delinquency from 10 to 13, meaning that individuals or children that are 10 10, 11, and 12 found to be delinquent are would now be in the child protection space. Um, there was no work group or anything put forward for this. This is a bucket of kids that um have been long long receiving services in our criminal justice space for diversionary services and many good things that have proven to be good outcomes. Uh but we want to ensure that as they're shifted over into this child protection space and they're being removed from these long-standing services that that child protection space is built out and well resourced in order for these kids to be served well. So uh the juvenile justice advisory committee uh council had put together recommendations as a work group over the last year uh essentially asking for a 1 to twoyear kickout uh for us to ensure that we are well resourced and well built out for this bucket of kids that are now shifting over to the DCYF space. Uh other things that are also are moving uh the community supervision advisory uh council uh has deliverables that are coming due here. Uh that was in part of that 2023 legislation. That's our increase in funding for our community supervision formula. The SEESAC uh as it's uh uh coined is looking at many different things as far as supervision across the state uh just such as statewide supervision standards amongst many other things. I believe there's eight deliverables and they're coming due here. Uh we just want to be really hard on any of these deliverables that transform and change our practices uh and become best practices uh as they're being vetted right now by county staff and county directors uh don't have or as we anticipate them to have increased capacity for our our our counties that we request that there is resourcing and funding that comes along with it. Uh we just want to be sure to call that out. Um additionally, two last things kind of more in the emergency response space. Uh there's been discussions at the capital of utilizing a 911 fee to help uh solve the armor system uh funding issue that our state has been facing for many years now. Um our our systems and technologies are becoming more and more outdated. It's an archaic system. It's something that needs uh dire need of updating and that interoperability is really critical for emergency response individuals across the state to be able to communicate with each other. So, they're looking at maybe using the current 911 fee as an increase or an additional fee to help offset that. There's also been discussions uh from folks on the DFL of using that funding for crime victim services. I think we would like that to be a little bit more built out as a emergency response system all the way from when someone picks up the phone to uh with their PAPs all the way out to when we finally get folks out there. if it could be focused more in that 911 emergency response space for that funding to be dedicated to, that would likely be a little bit more beneficial and more in line with its intent. Uh, and then lastly, there was a push last year to get our emergency management positions that are uh mandated under Minnesota State uh statute chapter 12 uh that mandates every political subdivision have a local emergency management director. Uh, however, the state has never dedicated funding to that. uh in many counties uh and maybe even in Carver County. Uh you guys have maybe a sheriff or deputy that is an emergency manager, maybe you have an emergency manager that also does many other tasks such as planning and zoning. Um uh it I've met with folks across the state. It's really a mixed bag, but I think I could count on my hand the amount of emergency managers that are full-time. Uh and these are the people that ensure that we're prepared for disasters. And we're not just talking natural disasters such as floods or tornadoes. We're also talking terrorism, cyber security strikes. Uh these are the sorts of things that your emergency managers do and help us get prepared and mitigate. Uh and then lastly, there's been a large push for weather radar gaps. Uh Minnesota has a significant amount of weather radar gaps. Uh we only have three active radars uh that service Minnesota and it's more kind of in the central center west and north area that there is little to no coverage under 10,000 ft. Uh this is a significant challenge because you know snow squalls and raintorm uh severe weather can come at a moment's notice. If you guys have ever left your house and you know it said it was supposed to be bright and sunny and then it was storming that day. That is due in part because there is not any coverage for uh in those areas of Minnesota. Uh it does not read under 10,000 ft for any any uh uh storm systems. And so there's been a long push for that just because of the impacts it has not only agriculture but also public safety. Um, and so there's a big push going right there and be happy to get you any information. There's a lot of county folks that have been pushing that uh more in the rural areas, but those are the conversations that are being had. Happy to answer any questions. >> Amelio, right? >> Yes. Um, a couple of weeks ago in this room, we had a group of people who had uh maybe understood that the sheriff's department here was uh going to maybe uh contract with ICE to uh use some of our jail space, which isn't something that is currently occurring. Um, I'm sad to say they use some old tropes about the Holocaust and comparing our law enforcement to probable Nazis, etc. The same old silly stuff. Uh, um, is this something that uh, we're the organization is going to keep an eye on at the at the capital? I know was a headline in the Star Tribune um about more and more counties being available, having jails available. And so I don't think it's a question. As much as I let's keep an eye on where that is, I support all of our law enforcement um to handle our our issues and uh I think our sheriff does a good job and our deputies do a good job and uh but seeing what's happening around the nation uh I think we better keep an eye on uh on where this is going. So >> absolutely and I just again I want to give a big shout out to our sheriff's association. They do fantastic work. Our sheriffs across the state ensure public safety in uh you know just the best quality possible. So and that is something that we've been tracking and I know that the sheriff's association uh obviously counties are able to make their own decisions based on you know what they choose to do with their jails and administering their public safety but uh our sheriff's association nonetheless uh is of the highest quality of work. >> Anybody else? Thank you and I'll pass it over to my colleague Rachel. the best for last, Rachel. >> Uh, well, Nathan goes after me, so yes, best for last. >> All right. Uh, good morning, uh, Mr. Chair, commissioners. My name is Rachel Sysoic, and I am Micah's environmental leison on at the capital. So, this is my second session working with Micah. Um, and so, just want to share a little bit of an update on some of the things that I've been monitoring over the interim. um just updates on where things ended at the 2025 session and what we're thinking about as we head into 2026. So, uh similar to Amelio's update, I would say in the environment space more broadly, it was more or less maintaining status quo, not a lot of significant funding changes, not a lot of major policy changes. Um in part, I think because of the divided government and and the chair matchups that we had, co-chair matchups I should I should say. um and maybe disagreements on on priorities in the environment space, but uh still a lot of good work that that can happen and did happen. Um so over the interim um and just throughout 2025, there have been a few different relevant working groups, advisory boards that we've been monitoring. Um, you might recall in 2024, uh, Micah and counties more broadly were really strong advocates in favor of passing the packaging waste and cost reduction act, uh, which is establishes a product stewardship, uh, approach to dealing with packaging, uh, and paper waste. Um, and so that there's been an advisory board that's been set up to oversee the implementation of that uh, new program that's going to play out over the next several years. So, it's not, you know, something where we're going to see changes overnight, but um very focused on making sure that implementation goes well. Um, you know, mostly so that we ultimately see the the cost savings for counties, um, who are, you know, bearing the burden of, uh, paying for managing solid waste right now. Um, but also, I think that, you know, successful implementation will really set the stage for taking similar approaches for other types of waste, uh, waste items. Uh, and so that includes batteries and electronics waste. So, we were also really involved during the 2025 session in advocating for a battery batteries and e-waste uh product stewardship legislation which did not ultimately pass but uh the work on that continues. Um there have been stakeholder meetings convened over the interim um and working on updated language. Uh so hopefully we can get to a better place, get more more stakeholders all on the same page and uh bring something back in 2026. Um there's a critical materials recovery advisory uh working group as well um that's thinking about uh those same types of questions around you know batteries and electronics and how do we better set up um you know a more robust recycling system so that we can get those materials that we know we're we can reuse um in other ways and so there will be some recommendations coming out of that working group as we head to the end of the year that I think will also inform that conversation around batteries and e-waste in 2026. six. Um, you know, generally with our with our environment agenda, solid waste issues are, you know, the guidance that I have received from from our board, from uh county administrators and from the environment committee members are that solid waste issues are number one, number one, two, three, four, five, you know, top priority um for counties. And I think especially as we head towards the 2030 deadline for meeting the state mandated recycling goals and obviously right counties are are doing really great work to meet those recycling goals. But there are important policy and funding changes that could help support your great work. Uh and so that will continue to be a focus for us in 2026. Uh that conversation plays out across a number of different committees. Um you know for 2026 you know more of a policy and bonding year. So, I expect that's where we'll be focusing more of our uh more of my time at the at the capital. Um so, in the bonding committee, uh you know, the capital assistance program cap funding, I think we'll you know, that's been a a topic of conversation. Um the MPCA has uh put forward there's about $55 million in in CAP project funding needed uh across the state. So, that's sort of our benchmark. Um I don't expect that that full amount will make it into the governor's proposed bonding bill, but um that's you know when we're having conversations with legislators, we want to get as close to that number as possible. Um also thinking about uh the MPCA also put forward uh pretty robust almost $120 million requests around construction and demolition landfills. So they um have proposed they being MPCA has proposed new uh rules and regulations around CND landfills. uh back in 2018 actually is when they started this process. Um there were some study results that showed that even CN landfills were still having a negative effect on groundwater. Um and so wanting to uh have these new regulations in order to protect the groundwater, but obviously that comes with the costs uh for for folks who are operating uh landfills and and close landfills as well. So, uh, a lot of, uh, money at play when it comes to solid waste, uh, in the bonding space for 2026. Um, also thinking about, um, the tax committee, we, uh, you know, in my two years at MEC, and I think this will continue a conversation around SCORE and trying to redirect all of the solid waste management tax uh, that's collected to counties through SCORE grants to help support their recycling activities. um there's not a lot of money available at the at the state level. Um and so it's a tough conversation just in terms of there being funds, but it's an important one to have. It's it's one where I think legislators across parties understand in theory why we're asking for this and they agree that that, you know, is the right approach, but it's it's tough when the money is not there. But I think we want to continue um to to make that a priority for legislators um because at some point, you know, hopefully there will be funds available and so we want folks to um be ready to help champion that issue for for counties. Um, another thing that we're closely tracking um over the interim and expect to be an issue in 2026 is the uh public utilities commission is currently considering a docket around uh the state's carbon-f free standard and whether or not burning solid waste and wood waste counts as carbon-f free. Um, of course burning that waste does emit carbon, but when the the most likely alternative for managing that waste is putting it in a landfill and the methane emissions that come with that, um, counties would argue and and have argued and and many folks submitted public comments to the effect that uh, you know, burning it is ultimately a better a better option uh, when we think about greenhouse gas emissions. So, we uh, the public comment period closed a couple weeks ago on that docket. uh have not yet seen it on an official agenda yet, but there is expected to be a ruling by the end of the year. And I think either either way they rule, whether it's allowing burning of of waste or not, I think there's going to be a response at the at the legislature. Um, you know, I think counties would be interested in in uh having that that discussion at the legislature if they if they rule against it, but there are a lot of um environmental groups, environmental advocates who will probably be pretty upset if they if they rule the way that we would like them to. And so, um, there might be some defense needed. Um, so just tracking that pretty closely to see what uh what is the most strategic response. Um and then the last thing I'll say is just around uh the clean water fund and really uh just in 2025 the only significant spending on environment issues was just through the clean water fund over 300 million over the next bianium. Um in 2024 we did see a small supplemental uh clean water bill. So I think we'll just be watching the legacy committee and what um if anything is able to come out of that. Um and in general we've been aligned with the clean water council's recommendations. Um, and we have a couple of our Micro board members that serve on the council. So, they they've been pretty good on where we stand on our platform. So, that is it for me, unless folks have any questions or >> Well, um, the 2030 goal for recycling is 75%. Correct? >> Yes. >> We're not at 50. Okay. Uh maybe again not a question, but uh state statute is a lousy place to put a goal and because it lacks anything. Um it's it's the you can wish in this hand and do whatever you want in this hand. And um they they the legislature ought to just start thinking about a banning. I don't know if there's any uh repercussions if we don't we going to fine ourselves because we didn't reach it. The the the band of of pure recyclables is uh is very small uh just in the plastics realm although people think you can recycle all plastics the same. So, um um I don't know how long the Star Tribune is going to be printing the newspaper in Iowa of all places, but the Atlanta Constitution is no longer have a uh a printed they're not going to have a printed. Well, that'll reduce recycling. um uh the recycling trucks driving around with loads of newsp print that maybe are going to be there or not less and less people subscribe but um 75% is not obtainable and um and and I'm not sure if you were alluding to the idea that uh the score fund ought to be beefed up with an increased uh I mean are we still at 9.75% on our on our waste bills uh residential I mean that's where the money comes from, right? So are we suggesting we want higher taxes on our waste? >> So uh thank you for that. So the the conversation around score uh really centers on the fact that there is around it's 27% that is deposited of those tax collections that are deposited into the general fund which is about 32 $33 million a year. Uh and so we don't know like that can be used for whatever purpose, right? And so uh counties have have long argued that all of those solid waste management tax collection should be given directly back to counties to fund their activities to try to move waste up that that waste hierarchy. And so do more things like recycling and household hazard hazardous waste collection and and consumer education I think is a really good point too as well. just like how do you um getting that recycling rate to 75% is is somewhat you know right on counties but it's so much of that too is about a larger kind of cultural shift and and education of folks to know how they can be better managing their waste and so uh you can't make that kind of shift overnight happen overnight and so so we are not talking about increasing tax rates on waste it's more about the the money that's already being collected should be given back to counties so that they can do the good I agree. >> Great. >> Uh and and the commercial tax is 17% just FYI. But if you are in a say a county like Washington who is fully in the waste business, uh that tax is 56 to 72% somewhere on a commercial uh account. So if you're a little business, you got a $100 trash bill a month, it's $170 with the government participation. That's pretty confiscatory. So it seems like we do have enough money at least over there. But anyway, seeing no more. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, I'll wrap us up here. Uh just wanted to check in on pensions really quickly and let you all know uh last year probation officers were seeking an uh increased pension benefit through increasing their employee contributions. Uh there's a working group. Nothing passed and uh probation officers and 911 telecommunicators are now seeking uh increased employer contributions as well. We understand these are difficult, stressful jobs, but we're always just sensitive to the fact that increased employer contributions just ends up uh on the tax levy. So those conversations are ongoing. That group's meeting I think uh in another two weeks. Um can keep you posted on that moving forward. Um so just kind of wanted to provide a big picture uh of the budget at this moment in time. My caveat is literally every single one of these numbers is going to change in uh early December with the new economic forecast. But the highlights here I would just So if you look at the surplus after carry forward covers and balance for 2627. So that's just a really fancy way of saying here's how much money the state has left after the 2025 session on a one-time basis. There's basically a $1.9 billion cushion that the state has at this moment. But if you look at the first and second rows there, your projected revenues, projected spending spending is about $2 billion over revenues for each of the next two bianium. So they took a number of steps to reduce the the long-term structural budget issues, but those long-term structural budget issues are all still there, right? And that 1.9 billion, like theoretically in 28, you could cover most of the deficit in 2829, but not all of it. Um, so there's there's a little bit of a cushion, but the budget issues that the state's facing not going away. Uh, though less severe than they appeared um, in February. The other thing I would note here, and we're talking about this a little bit before uh, the meeting is that the state does still have a nearly $3.2 billion budget reserve. Um, and that there have been some revenue monthly forecasts come out recently. Some are up, some are down. There's really no big takeaway from them, I would say, at the state level. There's a number of special elections happening right now. The House is at 6767. Uh the Senate's at 3332. There's potentially cascading special elections depending on the outcome of a Senate special in Woodbury and a couple mayoral races. Um in the Twin Cities, we had Zach Stevenson um from Anoka County recently got elected as leader of the House DFL caucus. We're also engaging in kind of this ongoing Senate committee uh in response to the federal bill. They're trying to basically talk about okay, what is that? What happened? Uh we had a hearing last week where uh Commissioner Lori Halverson from Dakota County talked about some of the cost shifts that uh onto counties as a result of that bill. Obviously, state legislature doesn't have jurisdiction over what happens federally, but we do think it's relevant for just the county budget pictures and talking about it from that perspective. Um, governor's talking about calling special session. It's really no way of knowing how or when or if that will happen. And then the legislature returns on February 17th. Um, and between now and then, we're going to be going through our own policy process. Uh, always seeking board input. Um, and we'll be, uh, hopefully approving that in December. So, happy to stand for any questions. >> It's a lot. Thank you. Anybody have any any questions? >> Commissioner Lynch, >> I don't necessarily have a a question. I'd just like to say that that was a wonderful wonderful update and you surrounded yourself with some really good people and I'm very happy to be that we are members of Micah. >> All right. >> Yes. Good work. Thank you. >> Our attorney would like to >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman, as you know, the Minnesota County Attorneys Association is very active as well in our efforts at the legislature and our lobbying efforts. We um hired Nancy Hos as our lobbyist and she's with Paul Hos who also works with the county. We work in coordination with the sheriff's association, chiefs of police, and others to ensure that, you know, we're getting consistent laws and we played a lot of defense lately. >> So, that's really unfortunate. And so, just trying to educate takes a lot of effort about what we actually do on a day-to-day basis and try to do our best to ensure that we don't have bad laws with bad outcomes. So, you know, it's been a struggle the last couple years I can say with the county attorney association. Um, and we'll continue fighting for that and working together, you know, with our partners to make sure that, you know, our needs are being met. And we've addressed all these issues and have committees from the 48 hour rule to health and human services to law enforcement. So, we're really active and I I serve on the board as well. And we had our board meeting last week and talked about our priorities that are coming up as well. past president, right? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Micah. >> We appreciate it. >> Fehee and Workman are on that committee, right? >> Correct. >> The very best. >> Simply speak. >> I'll speak for fee. >> Does it help having having a former legislature on that committee or hurt? >> Good question. >> All right. Does it does it help having a former legislature on that committee or hurt? >> That's kind of you. >> All right, we'll see you next time. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, county administrator report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are now entering day seven of the federal shutdown. I just want to see if you had any questions on that. I sent a email, a brief email to you the day before that occurred stating that there were relatively minimal impacts that we foresaw some cash flow concerns with SNAP in particular, probably around uh according to Heather 40,000 a month starting in I think November. >> Uh that could add up over time, but we can manage that. Uh Dave has also said Dave Freshman has also said uh the uh transportation area we're keeping an eye on cash flow there federal reimbursement but we also feel we could manage that too. So uh for us uh minimal obviously there's other impacts more directly related to their services. Just wanted to touch on that since it's making headline every day with looks like at least no one in the site right now unfortunately. Good. That's it. Okay. Then I promised I would bring up uh to the board at this point our possible slight decorating of the uh county boardroom with a uh some words above our deos here. Um I think I've spoken to all of you about that, but I'd love to get a re reinput on that. I'm I'm certainly in favor of it. Um, I didn't want this to be a one or a two person uh project. I wanted it to be the county board project and uh so I'm looking for some input. Commissioner, >> uh I'm in support. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, could you clarify what exact the wording? >> Oh, uh, sister county of ours in Noa County, they did it a little bit more serendipitously. Uh, they put the words that's found on all of our money in God we trust up above their deas and it's been suggested that maybe we do the same. And I don't >> You're also you're thinking of up on the >> right >> edge there on the circular. Yes. >> Yeah. All right. >> Right. Not on the ceiling stuff. >> Very much in support, Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Fay, >> I am in support. Commissioner Anderson, >> it's on our money. It's in our pledge. I'm in support. >> All right. Okay. We'll uh we'll mock something up and run it by the board. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. >> Okay. I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn. Commissioner Lynch. So move, Mr. Chair. >> Second. >> Commissioner Lynch has moved and Commissioner Udman has second the idea that we adjourn this regular session. Any discussion? >> Only that to note that we're going to go into a work session. >> That we're going to go into a work session. And we have a very patient uh person waiting out there. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes and we are going to take a brief uh recess. >> Brief recess. >> Yes.