Beltrami County commissioners voted to adopt changes to liquor and beer license fees that staff said were benchmarked to neighboring jurisdictions and are expected to add about $5,000 to the county's budget.

Lila Roth, described in the meeting as the division director responsible for liquor licensing, said the proposed amounts were placed in the 2026 fee schedule and that licensees were notified in the renewal notices to satisfy the 30-day notice requirement. "In doing the proposed fees, I looked at other surrounding counties, City Of Bemidji's to make our fees, similar to theirs because we were a bit lower than all the other ones," Roth said.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing. Commissioners then discussed how the additional revenue would be used; Roth and staff said the revenue would go to the county general fund, but commissioners could choose to assign funds to specific departments or programs.

Commissioner Sumner asked whether the money was already anticipated in the budget; Commissioner Carlson said the increases were anticipated during the budget development and were "baked in" to departmental projections. Commissioner Gould opposed the increase on principle, saying, "I don't see how $5,000 is gonna make or break the $100,000,000 county budget" and expressing concern about burdening small businesses.

Commissioner Carlson moved to accept the fee increases; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Carlson (yes); Commissioner Gould (no); Commissioner Wenger (yes); Commissioner Sumner (yes); and one additional yes recorded, making the tally 4-1.

Staff indicated the additional revenue would be placed into the general fund unless the board directs otherwise.