Board gives early guidance on outside-agency funding: flat budgets plus few targeted increases proposed
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Summary
The Winona County Board reviewed outside-agency 2026 funding requests and provided initial guidance: generally hold requests flat while considering targeted increases for senior advocacy services and the soil and water conservation district.
The board held a working-session review of 2026 outside-agency requests and gave staff preliminary guidance for the upcoming budget cycle.
County administration presented a list of 26 outside-agency requests. Commissioners discussed individual asks and budgetary context. Several members favored keeping most outside-agency allocations level with the previous year. At the same time, multiple commissioners said they would consider targeted increases for two organizations in particular: the Senior Advocacy Center (to support in-person advocacy and tax-refund assistance for older residents) and the Soil & Water Conservation District (to support conservation and technical assistance programs).
Commissioners emphasized the county's overall fiscal constraints and noted the pending state and federal budget actions that could shift local responsibilities. One commissioner asked staff to obtain additional detail on specific agencies' requests (for example, program-level breakdowns and outcomes) before finalizing recommended county support.
Staff will circulate agency materials and include the requests in outside-agency budget materials for formal levy and budget discussions in September. No formal appropriations were made at the working session.
Ending: Finance staff will compile supplemental documentation from agencies, present recommended funding scenarios in upcoming budget work sessions and incorporate commissioner direction into the preliminary levy process.