The county commissioners will discuss a proposed $28 million budget during today’s board meeting.

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

The county commissioners will discuss a proposed $28 million budget during today’s board meeting.

Despite a 9.9 percent increase in the local tax levy that is the largest jump in the past 10 years, the total budget of $28,275,574 shows a slight drop from last year.

The board will also talk about a 3 percent salary raise for the county employees.

Throughout the year, the county has tried to slim down the initial budget request of $29,723,000 to accommodate the increased compensation and other necessities without touching its reserve fund.

Modification from initial request

Through negotiations with the administration, the Highway Engineer Office made a significant concession to trim down its request from $7,411,537 to $6,185,037.

The office has given up two road reconditioning projects, purchase of new equipment and a highway shops improvement plan for the next year, according to director Sue Miller.

It also curtailed a $145,900 request for public works on county parks to $85,900. The reduction involves the maintenance of snowmobile trails and sewage systems.

Court Administration, Court Services, the Soil and Water Conservation District, Department of Human Services and Library has also decreased their requests.

The Sheriff’s Office and jail raised their initial requests slightly.

Change from last year

The budget for the Environmental Services expanded 41.4 percent from last year.

Due to increasing state and federal mandates as well as an awareness among local residents of the environmental issue, the number of programs the department is engaged in has been growing rapidly. To deal with the growing demands, the department added two and half new positions this year.

Director Randy Tuchtenhagen explained the department’s 74.4 percent budget increase in the past four years should be necessary and not damage the county’s fiscal health.

Unlike other offices, the Environmental Services has a lot of self-funding sources through fees and charges. Most of the programs are also funded either by the state or by the federal government. The appropriation from the county tax money is limited, according to Tuchtenhagen.

A 485 percent increase in the elections budget reflects the expenditure for a general election coming in November next year.

The budget request for the Attorney’s Office, Commissioners, Courts Administration, Courts Services, Public Works, Sheriff’s Office and enhanced 911 system have shrunk from the last year’s budget.

The equipment note of $375,000 as the payment for $1 million in capital equipment bonds is also accounted in the proposed budget.