The full list of nonprofit contributions approved by the New Ulm City Council for 2026 budget.

NEW ULM – On Tuesday, the New Ulm City Council approved $105,994 in total nonprofit contributions in the 2026 budget.

For the last two years, the city has accepted applications from local nonprofits seeking funds from the city.

During a July work session, the city council reviewed all application from local nonprofits. The city initially receive requests from 18 nonprofits totaling $182,250. Based on recommendations made during the work session, New Ulm Finance Director Nicole Jorgensen brought back a proposed nonprofit budget to the Aug. 5 council meeting for final approval.

The revised budget cut the number of nonprofits receiving funds down to 14. The amount of funds contributed to each nonprofit was based on a recommended average from each councilor.

The Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) received the highest contribution at $23,286 a little under the $25,000 requested. The council felt BCHS provided a service to New Ulm. The city does not have its own historical society.

Councilor Larry Mack believed the BCHS provided a service to the city by store historical artifacts.

“The museum is the only one holding our collection,” he said.

Councilor Tom Schmitz agreed, saying he believed governmental or quasi-governmental entities like BCHS, New Ulm Battery and New Ulm Municipal Band deserved some addition support. The New Ulm Battery and New Ulm Municipal Band received the second and fourth highest contribution, receiving $20,000 and $15,000.

The Heart of New Ulm (HONU) received the third highest contribution at $15,714. Council Schmitz previously said he supported the HONU mission and objective to improve the health of citizens.

The main point of contention was whether the city should be providing funds for building maintenance and repairs.

Councilor David Christian agreed all of the organizations seeking contributions were great at supporting the community, but he was concerned about using tax dollars to maintain non-city buildings. Christian was OK with providing funding for 2026, but warned he would be more critical of contributions next year.

“If this is for maintenance of the building, I am probably not going to support it,” he said. “We’re not in the business of getting some of these buildings repaired.”

Mack agreed that longterm, the city should not be covering the maintenance and renovation of a nonprofit building because it was difficult to sustain.

Schmitz said it was a slippery-slope for the council to fund private facilities and private entities that charge for admission or services.

City Manager Chris Dalton said the only nonprofits seeking funds for buildings were the Wanda Gag House, The Lind House and Turner Hall.

Schmitz said he believed the $105,994 contributions were fiscally reasonable and was slightly less than the 2025 nonprofit contribution of $106,450. He made the motion to approve recommendation with a second from Mack. All contributions were passed by the board with Councilor Eric Warmka abstaining on the New Ulm Business & Retail Association (NUBRA) contribution. Council President Andrea Boettger was absent from the meeting, but had previously abstained from discussion on the contribution to Turner Hall.

The $105,994 contribution represents a little over 1% of the city’s 2026 tax levy. The City Council is expected to set the overall preliminary levy for 2026 in September.