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FAIRMONT-- The Martin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday went over the preliminary 2027 budget. Department heads began filling out their requests in May with budget workshops starting in mid-June. Tuesday was the first time the board looked at the preliminary budget.
While the budget information in the packet provided listed the preliminary levy at a 15.87 percent increase, board members stressed that it was just a starting point and would be whittled down greatly.
Commissioner Jaime Bleess pointed out that the building CIP fund had a $2 million increase shown as being assigned to the levy.
"That is considering if you were to do the full electrical and HVAC of the LEC (Law Enforcement Center) in the next two years," explained Auditor/Treasurer, Mike Forstner.
Bleess asked why it was listed as assigned to the levy and Forstner said it could be cut, but that it was in there to start out budget conversations.
County Coordinator Scott Higgins added, "We thought it would be important to put it in so you as the board could discuss because you had plans maybe to do the second phase so we need to at least show in the budget that you can spread that out or reduce it."
Bleess said he was not saying that he didn't want to make any improvements but that he was leery of the amount of the levy increase making it out to the public and causing concern as it's highly unlikely the levy increase will be that high.
"That's unnecessary press that we don't need," Bleess said. "This 15.87 isn't real."
Board members agreed that the levy increase would not be nearly that high.
"It's a starting point," said Commissioner Kevin Kristenson.
Commissioner Richard Koons said the LEC project would likely be spread out over two years at a minimum and he pointed out that there's some federal money to use, along with some reserves.
"I agree with Jaime, I don't even want it out there that we have a proposed 15.87," Koons said.
Bleess said he understood it was a preliminary discussion but stressed again that the increase wouldn't be that high.
"Right now I think we're starting at about seven-point something, which is what we usually do every year," Bleess said.
Koons said that he believes the board should be in a four to five percent levy increase- range every year.
"This is a starting point," Kristenson said again. "We wanted to have a discussion with all of you to start and then go from there."
The board has until the end of September to set the preliminary budget and levy and the final budget and levy doesn't need to be adopted until December.
In other business, the board further considered an increase to the lease agreement for the Fairmont Police Department. It had considered a five percent increase for 2027 at its last meeting but tabled it as some board members questioned whether the increase should be higher considering there are improvements planned at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).
Higgins said that at a five percent increase the rent for 2027 would be $65,760 but he said the board could add in a phased depreciation of the improvements. However, he said that the building committee has met and is still recommending just a five percent increase.
"The improvements really haven't happened yet," said Commissioner Billeye Rabbe, who is on the building committee.
She said there may be adjustments in the following year but for 2027 she thought a five percent increase was fair.
Commissioner Joe Loughmiller also pointed out that the improvements won't really affect the area that Fairmont Police Department occupies.
The board unanimously approved of the five percent increase.
The board also heard from Tim Auringer of Oleson and Hobbie Architects regarding awarding a bid for the interior office renovation project at 1200 N. State Street in Fairmont.
Six bids were received and the lowest came from Ankeny Builders, Inc. at a cost of $381,750, which includes alternates for wall panels and windows.
"There were some damaged windows currently in the building," Auringer explained.
Rabbe said she was at the bid opening and had been happy to see some bids from local businesses. She made a motion to go with the low bid, including the alternates.
Commissioner Richard Koons agreed that now is the time to do the window work and not after all of the interior work is done.
"I think that's the smart move," he said.
The motion passed unanimously.
In other business:
-- The board heard an update and 2027 budget allocation request from CREST Executive Director, Rob Stauter.
-- The board heard an update and 2027 budget allocation request from James Nelsen of the South Central Volunteer Dive Team.
-- The board approved of the installation of a voting window in the Auditor/Treasurer's Office at a cost not to exceed $10,000.