Preliminary SE budget shows 17% increase
Wish list includes variety of projects
SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston shared his thoughts on the 2026 preliminary city budget with the city council Tuesday.
“Right now, just keeping up with inflation and without adding anything new and shiny, we’re looking at about a 17% budget increase over last year. I don’t anticipate that to be the final (increase),” said Elston. “One of the things we peeked at this year is a ($3.28 million) list of things that people in the community asked for in the last few years or big ticket items we know are coming. Obviously, we don’t do all of these things or many of them, but that’s where we are starting at.”
He said a preliminary budget will be approved and sent to the county auditor by Sept. 30. A final budget that can’t be more than the preliminary budget will be sent to the county auditor in December.
“We’ve done a lot of community investment in the last 20 years — the lake trail, aqua center and community center. Some of them need some serious maintenance,” said Elston. “The pool needs new plaster work that costs about $350,000. We have about 900 ash trees on boulevards that need removal estimated at $200,000. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t own boulevard trees. We only own trees in parks. If a boulevard tree is hazardous, it’s a 50-50 cost share with property owners to remove it unless we get a grant.”
Other projects include $25,000 to complete tree removal and adding rock on the north side of Allison Park for a better view of the lake, $150,000 for Sportsmen’s Park campsite expansion, baseball field lights $250,000; new softball field $500,000; maintenance position $50,000; Birch Street expansion $1 million; outdoor pickle ball court $60,000; indoor court $750,000; dog park $35,000; Allison Park ADA playground $300,000; mill/repave bike trail $286,000; splash pad $300,000.
Budget workshops will be held at noon, July 14 and 21 in the council chambers.