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FAIRMONT-- The Martin County Commissioners held heir Truth in Taxation meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening. While no one from the public attended the meeting, the board discussed the proposed levy, which is a 3.85 percent change from 2021 to 2022. It's a slight adjustment from the preliminary budget of 3.87 percent which was made in September.
Martin County Auditor/Treasurer, Jessica Korte, outlined the budget, noting that the biggest increase comes in salary/wages and benefits.
"The big things that we found were our increase in salary and health insurance. That's almost $700,00 with salary and benefits in total," Korte said.
The proposed budget is going up slightly, from $28,627,835 in 2021 to $29,979,492 in 2022 for a 4.72 percent increase.
"I think that at the end of this year, we'll have some money in our budget from 2021 left," said commissioner Kathy Smith.
Commissioner Elliot Belgard noted that reserves are back up to healthy levels.
Korte said there's a 7.62 percent increase in budgeted expenditures. The majority goes to roads and bridges, general government and public safety.
"In these times to be at 3.85 (percent) with the stuff that we're doing around here," said commissioner James Forshee, who felt that the slight increase was reasonable.
After discussion, Belgard asked the rest of the commissioners if they were okay with 3.85 percent tax levy. Forshee said he'd like to stay where they're at.
"You do take take a risk if you go lower," said Belgard, as the levy cannot be raised again, only lowered.
Mike Sheplee, County Assessor, talked about property taxes and the market values and differences between agriculture residential and commercial, industrial and utilities.
"67 percent of the estimated market value is ag-related and 22 percent residential," Sheplee said.
He said the difference between this year and last year is ag is down 1 percent and residential is up 1 percent.
"An individual property owner may contact you and say, 'my taxes went up 25 percent,' yes, that happens," Sheplee said
"Especially around the lakes," said commissioner Kathy Smith, noting that she's heard from people who aren't happy.
Turning aside from the conversation of valuation, which is discussed at a different time, Sheplee said the total taxes collected was $40.91 million. That was distributed to townships and cities, schools and state general.
"The county receives, of all tax payments, 42 percent," he said.
He pointed out that when people want to blame, they go to the county because that's who they write their checks payable to. But he said the county distributes it and some people don't understand that.
The Martin County Commissioners will adopt the budget and approve the levy at the Dec. 21 meeting.
During the regular meeting, the board:
-- Accepted a $90,000 grant from Minnesota Department of Public Safety- Office of Justice Programs to the Martin County Youth Intervention Program.
-- Approved the Disabled American Veterans to place four or five clothing bins the NW corner of the parking lot at 1200 North State Street in Fairmont.