# Willmar City Council Work Session 10/12/2026

The City of Willmar Council held a work session on October 12, 2026, to review the 2027 general fund budget and property tax levy ahead of the December 7 truth-in-taxation hearing. Staff reported a 1.31% increase in general fund expenditures and a 5.92% increase in the city’s proposed property tax levy; reaching a flat levy would require roughly $350,000 in reductions. The council discussed possible changes to funding for city hall, the auditorium, pool operations, mosquito spraying, and staffing, while weighing service impacts and future debt and capital needs. No budget or procurement votes were taken. The council also discussed revisiting city hall options and preparing for a possible local-option sales tax proposal in a future legislative cycle.

Procurement- and spending-related items included an approximately $18,000 premium for additional cybersecurity insurance, which staff said would provide broader coverage, and a verbally indicated $30,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield grant expected to offset departmental expenditures. Staff described a softball-field netting project reduced from $160,000 to $50,000 and raised a possible $10,000 contribution from the CIP fund, subject to later council action. Staff also presented AI-enabled vehicle software estimated at $40,000–$50,000 for identifying infrastructure and code issues; council members favored using existing staff resources rather than adding that expense. No contract awards, vendor selections, or formal purchasing approvals were identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Information Technology
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 12, 2026

### Sources
- [Willmar City Council Work Session 10/12/2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lhbDbYOb6I) - City of Willmar