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The managers on the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District Board voted 5-0 last week to set a preliminary levy hike for 2026 of 23 percent.  There were about a half-dozen taxpayers attending this meeting in Forest Lake. An additional levy session will be scheduled for October to continue public input and Board discussions.  

The Watershed District budget and levy need to be made final in December. The preliminary number is required by September,  in order to give auditor/treasurers in Washington and Chisago Counties time to  calculate property tax statements for pay-2026.

The average tax impact for the proposal (if it remains unchanged through December) is approximately an additional $52 or a dollar per week on a $415,000 residence in Washington County and $57 per year more on a $450,000 residence in Chisago County, it was explained.  (These are examples of “median’ home valuations in the watershed district.). The residential parcels within the special taxing district already pay approximately $200 annually in property tax on the example home values given. 

The watershed district gets other revenue from permits and a variety of grants and partnerships with agencies.

Administrator Mike Kinney explained there is “a historical pattern’ of half what the budget requires being levied as property tax, and the rest comes through outside sources.  The district budget is $4.4 million approximately and the levy will bring in $2.2 million as proposed.  

Visitors to the meeting were told of successes the district has had in improving water quality and addressing uncontrolled stormwater damages of the past.  The district is ahead of its 10 year work plan goals and is a leading example of how districts should work.  Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District has been awarded by far the most monies through the Clean Water Fund of any other governmental unit doing their same work, reporting $6.6 million in grants leveraged in 10 years.

The Watershed District Board is attempting to eliminate debt it encumbered starting around 2019, and this is the primary reason for the 2026 revenue increase being sought.  

WD Manager Steve Schmaltz, a Washington County resident, explained the majority of this proposed 2026 hike is dedicated to paying  down debt.  He had a detailed explanation of several years’ worth of levies and said the district has adopted levy hikes of 20 percent or  more a few times in past years, but has also approved zero hikes. (See yellow colored chart)

The history works out to about 7.7 percent annually, he pointed out. The managers (three from Washington County and two represent the Chisago portion) probably ought to have adopted slightly larger increases in some years— so this proposed hike wouldn’t be so noticeable, but that’s hindsight, he mused.

A citizen residing on Forest Lake said he hopes  managers will look carefully to trim this proposal as it is unsustainable for taxpayers.  

Another citizen stated those owning property within the watershed,  but who don’t own lakeshore,  may need convincing that this spending is beneficial to them.

Kinney responded that the district overall now has a formal way to regulate practices that were damaging the environment in the past— and this benefits everybody.  Pollution previously causing impairment of water quality has been turned back,  as nutrients like phosphorus for example are contained and filtered. Bone Lake was recently delisted from the impaired lakes inventory and Comfort Lake is on track to be delisted in 2026.  

There used to be weed and algae growths,  and odors emanating from area waters that are gone.   Having quality lakes and making improvements to the Sunrise River attract economic activity, as well as being essential for wildlife and the ecosystem.

Board Chair Jackie Anderson, a Chisago County resident, pointed out that the district is a very small percentage of a parcel tax bill.  She did share that she and Kinney are slated to meet with the MN Pollution Control Agency soon, about restructuring or extending outstanding debt and this may help to trim revenues needed.

And an item of positive news from the meeting was the Lessard Sams committee, which processes and allocates the state funds and its priorities are adopted by the legislature for dispersal, recommends an award to Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District of $2.5 million.  The committee receives hundreds of funding requests.  Kinney added that winning this grant is an acknowledgement of the watershed district’s strong reputation. 

The Board also applauded the selection of a Washington County couple, John and Jean Schreckeis, as tops in the Lower St Croix Partnership for restoring their residential shoreline.  They have worked with the watershed district and Washington County Conservation District,  to return native vegetation to their lakeshore on Keewahtin. District staff member Aiden Read said their parcel is pointed to as an example of what shoreline programs are meant to achieve,  and John and Jean are “great partners” in public outreach. 

Taking his oath of office was the newest Board Manager for Washington County, (replacing Manager Loth) was Jim Schottmuller.

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