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FAIRMONT-- The Martin County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Friday morning to discuss and finalize the 2024 preliminary budget and levy.
County Coordinator Scott Higgins said that while the board has had all of the material for about two months some revisions have been made. At the regular County Commissioner meeting on Sept. 19, several board members indicated that they'd like to hold a special meeting to bring the budget and levy down from 6.97 percent.
On Tuesday Higgins said that the budget committee has met since then and suggested some revisions and was able to get the levy down to a 4.16 percent increase.
Board members went through the budget and asked several questions about the proposed cuts which reduced the budget.
County Commissioner Richard Koons noted that HR is now doing all stray and benefits, rather than having department heads do them. The board talked quite a bit about changes from COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) and step increases, which there are eight of. Step increases began in 2018.
"The COLA will always be there, but that's not what hurts us," said Commissioner Elliot Belgard.
Koons noted that there were two grades that moved up one grade each in the budget.
Commissioner Kathy Smith added that one reason the wages are skewed is because there were a good number of positions over the last year that weren't filled. Belgard added that there has been quite a few turnover in the Sheriff's Office and when someone retires and a new person is brought in, they're started at a lower salary.
Some other changes to the budget include a $85,000 reduction to the human services budget as there is adequate dollars in the fund right now. There was also a $4,500 reduction of program supplies in the victim/witness budget.
Commissioner Jaime Bleess questioned the $250,000 reduction to the Sheriff's Office budget. At a past budget meeting he had noted that several departments had been over budgeting and had leftover funds every year.
"I get they're under on salaries a lot... but the feeling I'm getting is in the first few times they've been in here to talk to us... they said it wasn't in the budget but there was money in the budget," Bleess said.
He pointed out some line items in the past budget that showed how much was budgeted for items versus how much the actual cost was. Bleess said he would like items to go to the board ahead of time in the future, which other board members agreed with.
"Are there ways that you can suggest they and other departments come talk to us?" Bleess asked Higgins.
Higgins said that generally departments come before the board to communicate what expenses are going to be. Belgard said they should enforce it more as a function of the board is to control the money of the county.
The board asked Auditor/Treasurer Mike Forstner several other questions about the budget and thanked him for his work on it.
County Assessor Mike Sheplee also provided information on the tax impact to residents in relation to the levy. On a house valued at $150,000, a 4.16 percent levy increase would result in a $15.34 percent increase in property taxes.
Koons said with the proposed Justice Center, they want the budget and levy as tight as it can be ahead fo the bond payment coming in.
Before meeting the preliminary budget and levy, the board noted that it can still lower them ahead of the end of the year, but it cannot raise either.
"I honestly think we can get to 3.99 percent later but I'm comfortable with 4.16," Bleess said.
Belgard said if something does come up, they have "rainy day" funds that can be used to address unexpected needs.
"We don't think we're making any big mistake that will cause that to happen, but we do have that to back us up," Koons said.
The board approved a motion to set the preliminary 2024 levy at a 4.16 percent increase.