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County levy may jump 10 percent; board waits to decide

By
Mavis Fodness

Setting the 2017 preliminary levy will be a priority for Rock County Commissioners when they meet Sept. 20.
For almost a month the commissioners have discussed needs in each of the county departments and are considering budget increases of nearly $500,000, which would require the levy to increase 9.66 percent.
The county will receive $167,650 in county state aid, up $5,000 from 2016. Local taxpayers contributed $5.15 million.
Affecting discussion is uncertainty about rebuilding the county’s reserve fund.
Currently the county has 2.5 months of expenditures in reserves. The state recommends at least five months in reserve.
The flooding events of 2014 significantly depleted reserves for immediate infrastructure repairs, and previous budget sessions have set aside $48,000 and $55,000 in the last two years.
Commissioners discussed placing $50,000 to $100,000 in reserves for 2017.
Also affecting 2017 budget plans is the final three-year union employee contract. Negotiations have been on hold since union negotiator John Spiegelhoff of Worthington was killed in an Aug. 11 motorcycle accident. County officials are waiting for another negotiator to be appointed.
“We know there will be a cost but we just don’t know what it is,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre.
Some expenditures for 2017 have already been decided.
A 25-percent increase is expected for prisoner care, raising the budget from $80,000 to $100,000 for next year.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge told commissioners at the Aug. 16 budget session that arrests in the county have increased primarily due to repeat alcohol offenders.
Also decided is a 21.98-percent increase in the Southwest Health and Human Services budget.
Chris Sorenson, director of SWHHS, explained to commissioners at their Aug. 16 work session that state mandates have the six counties in SWHHS picking up more costs for social services, financial assistance, child support and public health for residents.
Rock County’s SWHHS increase results in an additional $21,795 for 2017.
“We are looking at additional funds,” Sorenson said. “I don’t like to raise taxes.”
Two department directors also talked with commissioners Aug. 16 about approving increases in personnel.
Sheriff Verbrugge requested four additional peace officers at a cost projected around $389,000 or a 56.72-percent increase in his budget. The amount includes $10,000 for an officer promotion to assist with nighttime administrative duties.
Earlier this year commissioners approved reclassifying the dispatcher/officer position into a full-time officer position.
The department currently employs no part-time officers, Verbrugge said.
Rock County Community Library Director Serena Gutnik also requested increasing the library’s budget by 10.22 percent or an additional $28,956.
Included in the request is increasing the current children’s librarian to a full-time position at an added cost of $4,596.
The commissioners’ Sept. 20 meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners room of the Rock County Courthouse.

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