Baudette May Cut Law Enforcement Budget In Half
BAUDETTE, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — The City of Baudette is weighing a major change to its law enforcement funding, with city leaders considering a proposal to cut their contract with the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Department by 50%. The discussion follows growing frustration over service levels and tightening local finances.
According to meeting notes from a September 25th city work session, Baudette currently pays more than $200,000 per year for contracted law enforcement coverage under an agreement that began in January 2023 and expires at the end of this year. Before that contract, Baudette operated its own municipal police department.
Mayor Dylan Lee Hancharyk and city council members voiced concerns that deputies from the sheriff’s department are not visible enough within city limits and are not enforcing local ordinances or traffic laws. “I think that $200,000 is being wasted if they have to respond to 911 calls anyway,” Mayor Dylan Lee Hancharyk said during the meeting.
The council discussed whether the city even needs a dedicated law enforcement contract if the sheriff’s department must respond to emergencies in Baudette regardless. The idea of cutting the contract cost in half when it expires on December 31st gained traction during the meeting.
Sheriff Gary Fish attended the council’s October 13th meeting after viewing a recording of the previous session. Sheriff Fish questioned whether the council’s concerns were primarily about budget cuts or service quality. City officials told him that both issues were driving their deliberations. “We are in a budget crisis,” Mayor Dylan Lee Hancharyk said. “The bottom line is, we’re looking at what we can get for about half the cost.”
No formal action has yet been taken, but officials indicated the matter will return for discussion before the end of the year as the city prepares its 2026 budget.
To learn more about how Minnesota cities fund law enforcement, visit the League of Minnesota Cities.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
