BEMIDJI — Proposed cuts to the Bemidji and Blackduck libraries and local history museum prompted more than 100 people to crowd the Beltrami County boardroom Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Several people began rallying outside the administration building during the county’s work session, holding signs that said things like, “How can we thrive if our library is deprived?” or, “Gut fish, not libraries!”
County commissioners heard from several residents who took to the lectern to voice their displeasure about the planned budget reductions. Board Chair Craig Gaasvig explained he would not allow citizen comments on anything to do with the budget, as is standard practice for items on the agenda. But comments proceeded anyway for at least 30 minutes before commissioners returned to the agenda.
“I would just like to register my concern as a matter of public record for the rush on this. The Bemidji Public Library got a little more than a week’s notice that our budget was being gutted,” said Kate Egelhof, the Bemidji Public Library’s outreach coordinator, before she was interrupted by Commissioner John Carlson, who declared her out of order for commenting on a budget item.
“I want to speak to you respectfully that your declining to hear comments from the people who came on this topic that's dear to our hearts shows a considerable amount of disrespect for the citizens of Beltrami County,” said retired Judge Paul Benshoof, who was seated at Beltrami County for 23 years.
The cuts, County Administrator Tom Barry explained in the Tuesday, Sept. 16, work session ahead of the preliminary budget vote, were largely in anticipation of projected state and federal cost shifts to counties.
With less money expected to come in from the state and federal governments for things like overseeing probation or new work requirements for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the budget committee included a $700,000 cost shift contingency fund in the preliminary 2026 budget.
The Beltrami County Board set a list of budget priorities ahead of the budgeting process, specifically prioritizing funds for mandated operations like health and human services over funds for outside organizations, like libraries and the museum.
Community funding cuts would reduce the Bemidji and Blackduck library contributions from the county down to the mandatory minimum required by state law to remain a part of the Kitchigami Regional Library System. This represents a $175,000 funding cut from the previous year.
Even with eliminating new materials for the Blackduck and Bemidji libraries for the year, Bemidji branch manager Sherilyn Warren said in a previous interview that finding another $100,000 to eliminate could only come from so many places.
“Feasibly, the only way to do that would be to cut hours of operation and to cut staffing levels,” she said.
At the Beltrami County Historical Society, the county is proposing eliminating its $7,500 annual allocation entirely. Ending an $8,000-$10,000 annual allocation for Paul Bunyan Transit is also among the proposed changes, but the transportation nonprofit hasn’t used these funds in several years anyway, Barry confirmed.
Commissioner Joe Gould was the only commissioner who voted against the preliminary budget and levy, insisting the county is not in dire financial straits and can continue funding the Bemidji and Blackduck libraries, the Beltrami Historical Society and Paul Bunyan Transit at previous levels.
“We can use the funding from ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] dollars, we can use it from the $700,000 contingency fund that's in this budget,” Gould said. “There's places we can take this — salary savings is another area — that we could potentially take this from.”
With the preliminary budget and levy adopted by a 4-1 vote, commissioners can amend the budget but cannot raise the proposed levy increase more than the 9.6% they’ve already set. A final budget and levy must be set before Dec. 31.
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