The Washington County Board of Commissioners continued its review of the recommended 2027 departmental budgets in livestreamed and recorded workshops Aug. 25.
The countywide budget recommendation is for a 7.9% levy increase to $160.7 million. If the recommended levy is adopted, the owner of a median-valued home that had a median increase in value in the county would see a $67 increase in the county portion of property taxes for 2027, or a 6.5% increase from 2026. The county has the second-lowest tax rate and the third-lowest property tax levy per capita in the seven-county metro area.
The County Board reviewed the recommended 2027 budget for the Library Department, the Law Library, and the Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department.
The Library has seven physical branches across the county, a Law Library at the Government Center campus, Library Lockers in Marine on St. Croix, Hugo, and Newport, and a digital branch that holds its website, catalog of materials, email, and online chat services. The recommended 2027 budget for the Library is a 7.6% increase from 2026. The recommended 2027 budget for the Law Library is a 6.7% increase from 2026. Key factors impacting the recommended 2027 budgets for the Library and Law Library are
• Rising costs of physical and digital materials, supplies, technology, and subscriptions.
• Library building projects to enhance its facilities.
• Short- and long-term staffing needs.
The Property Records and Taxpayers Services Department provides a wide variety of mandated and core services in five locations throughout Washington County. It is projected that in 2027 the Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department will:
• Collect $765 million in property taxes and service fees.
• Oversee property records of 121,100 parcels.
• Conduct 234,700 transactions in licensing centers.
• Support 203,130 registered voters.
• Record 42,000 documents.
The department provides services at the Government Center in Stillwater and service centers in Stillwater, Forest Lake, Woodbury, and Cottage Grove. The recommended 2027 budget for the Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department is a 1.1% increase from 2026. Key factors impacting the Property Records and Taxpayer Services budget are housing market trends, rising technology usage and associated costs, License Center wait times and operational costs, and additional election joint powers agreements.
The board will hear recommended budget presentations from additional county departments on the following dates:
• Sept. 1: Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.
After the department budget presentations, the board will follow a budget process from September through early December, which will include:
• Sept. 22: Setting a preliminary levy.
• Dec. 1: Conducting a public meeting on the proposed 2027 budget and levy.
• Dec. 15: Adopting a budget and property tax levy for 2027, and the capital improvement plan.
All budget presentations are available on the county website. Archived livestreamed meetings are available on the county website at WashingtonCountyMN.gov/CountyBoard. Budget documents presented at the workshops are available at WashingtonCountyMN.gov/Budget.

County Board makes appointment to Community Corrections Advisory Board
Also from Aug. the Washington County Board appointed Caroline Durham to a partial term as the Public Defender’s Office Representative on the Community Corrections Advisory Board Aug. 26.
Durham was appointed as Managing Attorney for the Tenth Judicial District Public Defender's Office in Washington County in August. Durham replaces Nathan Sosinski, who was appointed to a judgeship, in her new position and also as a member of the Community Corrections Advisory Board.
The partial term begins Aug. 26, 2026, and expires Dec. 31, 2027.

Sheriff’s Office receives $4,000 for its annual employee appreciation event
In law enforcement related news, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received $4,000 for the Annual Employee and Family Appreciation Day.
This September, the Sheriff's Office will be hosting its fifth Annual Employee and Family Appreciation Day and Wellness Event. Well over 300 employees and their families are expected to attend this event.
The Sheriff’s Office received a $1,000 grant from Marathon Local Giving and a $3,000 donation from Land O’ Lakes in support of the event.

County Board approves construction contracts for Law Enforcement Center renovations
Continuing law enforcement news, the Washington County Board approved five construction contracts Aug. 25 for phase two of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) Improvement Project.
The LEC was originally constructed in 1993, with an expansion completed in 2009. In 2022, a Long-Range Plan identified the need to replace remaining interior finishes and system furniture, upgrade life safety systems, modernize the building layout to improve flexibility, and update critical infrastructure including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Phase 1 (Bid Package 1) was completed as planned in October 2024. Phase 2 is being executed through multiple bid packages. Jail and detention lock replacement was completed in March 2025, and safety, mechanical, and electrical upgrades were completed in January 2026. This Phase 2 bid package includes space modifications to the existing Emergency Operations Center and the Water, Parks, and Trails space. It also includes a full remodel of the Patrol Division space.
Sixteen (16) work scope packages were developed, and Requests for Bids were posted publicly on April 16, 2026. A total of 316 companies looked at the project. Bids were opened on June 9, 2026, and 97 bids were received across the 16 scopes, with an average of six bids per work scope. Five contracts require County Board approval.
The board approved the following contracts Aug. 25:
• $185,100 contract with Parkos Construction Company for carpentry
• $208,270 contract with Pinnacle Wall Systems, Inc. for drywall
• $274,740 contract with Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company for fire suppression
• $308,000 contract with MN Sheet Metal for combined mechanical
• $355,000 contract with B&B Electric, LLC for electrical

County Board recognizes employee resource group for 20 years of equity work
Also Aug. 25, the Washington County Board passed a resolution Aug. 25 recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Racism Workgroup Employee Resource Group (ERG).
Over the past two decades, members of the Anti-Racism Workgroup from across the organization have contributed their time, leadership, lived experiences, and commitment to creating opportunities for dialogue, learning, support, cultural understanding, and growth. The Anti-Racism Workgroup, which originated in 2006 as a workgroup within the Community Services Department before transitioning to an ERG in 2022, continues to serve as a resource for employees and contributes to a workplace culture grounded in respect, belonging, inclusion, and understanding.
The proclamation recognizes this milestone, expresses appreciation to the many employees who have sustained the work over the past 20 years, and reaffirms Washington County's commitment to an inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace.

Construction contract approved for County Highway 14 at High Point Drive intersection improvement project
In road updates from Aug. 25, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $391,461 contract with Sunram Contracting Inc. for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 14 (34th Street North) at High Point Drive Intersection Project.
This project is located at the intersection of CSAH 14, High Point Drive, and Market Place in Oakdale and responds to the changing traffic patterns due to redevelopment in the area. With new commercial businesses opening, there is more consistent traffic throughout the day, and more people are walking and biking through the intersection.
Working with the City of Oakdale, the county identified pedestrian improvements and upgrades to the existing traffic signal system to serve these travel patterns. The project will improve the existing traffic signal system, multimodal infrastructure, and stormwater management, including new culverts and new connections to the existing storm sewer system. The project also includes signing and striping replacements.
Bids were opened on July 14, 2026, with seven contractors submitting bids. Sunram Construction Inc. submitted the low bid.
The board also approved a cooperative agreement for the project with the City of Oakdale. The agreement defines design and construction responsibilities, splits costs between agencies according to the county's cost participation policy, and defines ongoing maintenance responsibilities.