DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Certification Of Dakota County Portion Of 2026 Vermillion River Watershed Management Tax District Proposed Tax Levy
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Certify the proposed 2026 levy of $1,037,693 for the Dakota County portion of the Vermillion River
Watershed Management Tax District.
SUMMARY
By Resolution No. 02-347 (June 25, 2002), and amended by Resolution No. 24-623 (December 17, 2024), Dakota County executed a joint powers agreement (JPA) with Scott County to govern the Vermillion River Watershed. The JPA establishes a Joint Powers Board consisting of two commissioners from Dakota County and one commissioner from Scott County. Dakota County provides the primary staff support to the watershed organization with proportionate assistance from Scott County staff. The JPA also provides that by September 1 of each year, the Joint Powers Board will adopt a draft budget for the following calendar year and recommend a levy to each county for its share of costs for watershed organization activities.
By Resolution No. 02-296 (June 4, 2002), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners established the Vermillion River Watershed Management Tax District (Ordinance No. 127) to fund Dakota County's portion of the watershed organization's activities. Adopting a levy for the Watershed Management Tax District enables the County to tax property owners within the Dakota County portion of the watershed to fund services provided to them by the watershed organization rather than funding the services through the County's general levy. By statute, any proposed levy on the Watershed Management Tax District for taxes payable in 2026 must be certified by September 15, 2025. Dakota County's 2025 levy for the Watershed Management Tax District was $990,832; Scott County's levy was $36,050.
Proposed 2026 Levy
On August 28, 2025, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board held a hearing, adopted a proposed 2026 budget...
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