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With 14 people in attendance at the March 10 annual town meeting, Chisago Lakes Township approved a General Fund Levy of $90,000 for 2027, and approved an increased levy for fire contracts with four neighboring fire departments from $205,000 to $225,000 next year. 

The Road and Bridge fund levy will remain the same at $480,000 for upkeep of 80 miles of township roads, the fund for blacktop road repair will increase from $840,000 to $880,000. The levy for blacktopping gravel roads will remain at $85,000 with adjacent landowners paying 25 percent of the total cost. The levy for blacktopping deadend roads will remain at $40,000 with the adjacent landowners paying 75 percent of the total cost. Town supervisors indicated they will try to obtain a grant for the blacktopping of 250th St. 

The township equipment fund levy will remain at $50,000 for new equipment. The library operating fund levy will also remain at $15,000 even though the township per capita cost for support of the Chisago Lakes Area Library rose. It was explained that the shortfall will be covered by funds available in the Capital Project Fund which remained at $5,000. 

Town Clerk Jeanette Peterson reported that in 2025 the township issued 270 building permits, one preliminary plat, a liquor license for an event venue, two variances and entered three agreements for orderly annexations with the City of Chisago City. They entered a three-year fire contract with the city of Lindstrom and approved repair of the roof and windows at the Moody Round Barn historic site.

The township hall was rented 95 times in 2025. Rental fees range from $100 to $300 for residents and $200 to $550 for nonresidents, plus a damage deposits and an attendant fee, when needed. The township anticipates arrival of a new $250,000 plow truck in May. 

Leilani Freeman appeared on behalf of the Chisago Age Well Coalition to request a financial contribution from the township. Several other nonprofit groups made similar requests in writing. 

The township residents voted to approve an allocation of $5,000 from the General Fund in support of nonprofit agencies serving the township. Town supervisors will determine the amounts for selected recipients.

The township projected a total annual budget of $1.87 million.

Before the meeting closed, gopher bounties were set at $3 for both front paws from pocket gophers and $1 for tails of striped gophers. 

The meeting was recessed until 6:30 p.m. Aug 18, 2026, when town supervisors will approve the final levy. Next year’s annual town meeting was set for the second Tuesday in March 2027.

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