Hennepin County presents $3.09 billion 2026 budget with tax increase
Hennepin County officials held budget hearings on October 6 to present the proposed 2026 spending plan, which totals $3.09 billion and includes a 7.79% property tax levy increase. The hearings kicked off with presentations from the Sheriff's Office, which is requesting a $13.2 million budget increase.
County Commissioner Debbie Gotel opened the meeting by addressing a technical glitch that had prevented residents from calling in public comments during October 1st budget hearings. The county announced it would keep phone lines open throughout the week of October 6 to collect those missed comments, ensuring the public could weigh in on the budget discussions.
The proposed 2026 budget of $3.09 billion is based on a property tax levy increase of 7.79%, which matches the maximum amount the county board approved on September 25. County Administrator Jody Wentland outlined the Sheriff's Office request, which seeks $13.2 million more in overall expenses (a 7.8% increase) and $18.5 million more in property taxes (a 12.8% increase) compared to 2025.
Sheriff Dana Wit emphasized that personnel costs drive the budget, making up approximately 80% of the Sheriff's Office request. "The people who make up the sheriff's office and the people in the community who we took an oath to protect and serve" are the budget's central focus, Wit said. The sheriff outlined five key priorities: violent crime reduction, opioid overdose awareness and prevention, reform through programming, recruitment and retention, and community engagement and education.
Wit presented performance data to justify the budget request. From January through August 2025, the Sheriff's Office answered approximately 172,000 emergency calls. During the same period, deputies seized 414 illegally possessed guns, nearly 2,000 fentanyl pills, and 12 pounds of fentanyl powder. These figures underscored the office's work on drug interdiction and violent crime prevention.
The budget hearings are part of the county's formal process to inform board members and gather public input before final approval. The County Attorney's Office was also scheduled to present its budget during the October 6 hearings.
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Notable Quotes (7)
However, there was a technical issue that prevented the call-in line for public comment to open following the public works and law, safety, and justice lines of business presentation on October 1st. So, we're we're going to continue to accept comments on the open line during the week of October 6 for those budget hearings.
The proposed budget totals $3.09 billion and was based upon property tax levy increase of 7.79%. The board adopted a maximum property levy on uh September 25th of 7.79%.
The 2026 proposed budget for this sheriff includes an overall increase in expensive of approximately $13.2 2 million or a 7.8% above the 2025 budget as well as an overall increase in property tax of approximately $18.5 million or 12.8% compared to 2025.
While we are here to talk about the many pieces that make up the Henipin County Sheriff's 2026 budget request, I want to stress that a major component of my request is people. The people who make up the sheriff's office and the people in the community who we took an oath to protect and serve. Those dedicated people make up approximately 80% of the 2026 budget.
My priorities include violent crime reduction, opioid overdose awareness and prevention, reform through programming, recruitment and retention. Lastly, community engagement and education.
From January 1st to August 31st, they answered approximately 172,000 emergency calls.
Between January 1 and August 31st, they seized 414 illegally possessed guns, almost 2,000 fentinel pills, 12 lbs of fentinel powder,
Ordinances & Resolutions (5)
The main financial plan under discussion for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget document submitted by the county administrator to the county board on September 16th.
Printed and PDF materials provided to board members, noted to have a formula error regarding 2025 FTEs.
The financial plan approved for the previous fiscal year, used as a baseline for comparison with the 2026 proposed budget.
Previous budget hearing presentations from October 1st that experienced technical issues with the public comment line.
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Other Topics from This Document
Overview of the Proposed 2026 County Budget
Henipin County Sheriff's Office 2026 Proposed Budget Hearing
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