Lake of the Woods County (trfnews.i234.me) – Baudette Reduces Law Enforcement Hours to Cut 2026 Costs
The City of Baudette will see fewer law enforcement patrol hours next year under a new agreement with Lake of the Woods County. City officials say the move will save money but will also reduce police coverage.
The deal was approved during the November 10 council meeting. The agreement sets law enforcement coverage at 30 to 40 hours per week. The cost to the city will be $7,500 per month. Officials say this represents a 52% reduction from the previous contract.
Councilman Cole Nelson said the change reflects “less coverage for less money.” The previous agreement required deputies from the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office to work 12 hours a day inside the city. That level of service will not continue under the 2026 plan.
The new agreement covers only one year. Earlier contracts were set for three-year terms. City leaders said the shorter timeline allows Baudette to reassess costs and service levels more often.
The Sheriff’s Office has not issued a public statement on how the reduced hours will affect patrol operations.
For more information on public safety contracts and Minnesota municipal services, visit:
• League of Minnesota Cities – https://www.lmc.org
• Lake of the Woods County – https://www.co.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.
