DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Certification Of Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Property Tax Levy And Adoption Of Budget For 2026
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Certify the 2026 Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (Authority) Property Tax Levy and adopt the County Manager's Recommended 2026 Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
SUMMARY
In 1987, the Authority was formed under Minn. Stat. ? 398A, which grants broad powers to the Authority to plan, acquire, construct, preserve, and operate transitways and railroads. The Authority annually develops a CIP to identify capital projects and plans consistent with the Authority's powers and purpose. The first year (2026) of the five-year CIP will become part of the Authority's overall 2026 budget when approved.
The County Manager's Recommended 2026-2030 Authority CIP and 2026 Budget include a total of $2,750,000 in proposed projects (Attachment: Authority CIP). The County Manager's Recommended 2026 Authority Operating Budget totals $62,857 (Attachment: 2026 Authority Budget). The Operating Budget includes County staff costs for Authority projects and programs.
Eligible Authority activities and projects will continue to be funded by Authority Fund Balance beyond 2030. Once the Authority Fund Balance is insufficient to fund Authority projects and activities, eligible projects may be funded by the Dakota County Transportation Sales and Use Tax (SUT) or Transportation Advancement Account (TAA). The Authority Fund Balance will be maintained at a level that is adequate to fund any ongoing Authority activities not eligible for Transportation SUT or TAA funds. With this approach, the Authority certified a maximum property tax levy of $0 by Resolution No. 25-006 (September 23, 2025).
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
The County Manager recommends certification of a 2026 property tax levy of $0, which is the same as the 2025 levy. The County Manager also recommends the ado...
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