Commission sets 2026 cost-of-living adjustment at 2% and moves remainder to courthouse repairs
Summary
Steele County commissioners voted to apply a 2% COLA for staff and transfer the remaining budgeted COLA funds into a courthouse repair/buildings fund to hold mills steady.
Steele County commissioners voted Sept. 9 to set a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for county employees and to move the remaining budgeted allowance for COLA to courthouse repair and building funds. During budget discussion commissioners reviewed mill rates and salary schedules. Staff explained the county had budgeted a larger percent for COLA but that moving part of that allocation into a courthouse-improvement line would preserve the current mill rate and keep the overall tax levy unchanged. A motion to set the COLA at 2 percent and to transfer the remaining budgeted portion to courthouse repair was made, seconded by Commissioner Strand and approved by voice vote. The board instructed staff to update budget worksheets and prepare final budget documents ahead of the Oct. 10 filing deadline.
