FAIRMONT– The Martin County Board of Commissioners held a special budget workshop on Monday and talked about cuts that would bring the proposed 2026 levy down from a 9.76 percent increase to a 5.89 percent increase.

In September the board had set the preliminary levy knowing that it could not be raised from there, but only lowered. Since then staff has been looking at cuts that could be made to the budget and some other useful information has also come in.

County Auditor/Treasurer Mike Forstner talked through some of changes that have been made over the last two months.

Human Services had originally requested $5.1 million and the department was able to whittle down its request, after learning of some changes from the state, to $4.6 million. This resulted in a $461,977 cut.

Health insurance costs also came in about $330,000 lower than originally expected and the board is looking to reduce the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) by 1 percent. It originally budgeted a 4 percent increase but is trying to stay at a 3 percent increase.

Finally, Forstner explained that the Red Rock Center’s one-time request of $30,000 for roof repairs will come out of reserves. Similarly, the Historical Society’s one-time request of $10,000 for its interactive room will also come out of reserves.

“That’s where we’re at going line by line through this big pile,” Commissioner Richard Koons said, gesturing to sheets of various department budgets.

Commissioner Kevin Kristenson asked if there were other cuts that could potentially be made.

“I have studied this… and I don’t really see anything… that is alarming,” Koons said.

Forstner added that, aside from wages and benefits, a lot of the budget increase in various departments are due to vendors that are increasing their costs, which need to be reflected in their budgets.

“It’s just a reaction to what everyone is charging, really,” Forstner said.

Kristrenson said he did think that the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) needs to stay in the budget because there are a number of projects that the board is looking at. Other members agreed.

Information included in the meeting were proposed projects levied per CIP fund as the board knows that a number of upgrades are needed to the courthouse and security building (LEC).

All board members were in agreement that they liked being closer to a 6 percent levy increase. The board may discuss more at its regular meeting today but it will not finalize the 2026 budget and levy until its Truth in Taxation meeting on Dec. 2.

During the budget workshop, the board also heard from representatives of the Department of Corrections (DOC) regarding a $43,000 cost shift from the state and talked about ways to offset it in the upcoming budget cycle. One of the biggest ways that was discussed was to reconfigure office space and eliminate an office space that the county is currently paying rent on and utilize some existing space. The board will discuss the matter more during future meetings.