Yellow Medicine County commissioners unanimously adopted an increase to the 2010 levy, while one vote dissented on the 2010 budget this past Tuesday evening following the annual Truth and Taxation hearing.
Commissioners voted to approve the levy at 4.9 percent. YMC administrator Ryan Krosch noted that each percent change in levy results in a swing of $74,149. In sum, the 2010 levy will elevate the county’s total levy from $7,414,933 to $7,778,265, for a difference of $363,332.
Commissioners attributed the need to increase the levy to unallotments of the county’s program aid. In 2010 the state cut aid by $198,000 following $98,000 in reductions in 2009.
The passage of the budget brought one dissenting vote from commissioner Gary Johnson. Johnson stated his disapproval of budgetary cuts to county funded programs such as 4-H and Southwestern Minnesota Prairie Waters, a tourism organization. During budget sessions commissioners cut approximately $90,000 from the budget, including 4 full-time equivalent positions and roughly $30,000 in county programs that rely on the county for a portion of their budgets.
With the 4.9 percent levy, the final budget tally comes to $15,532,370 in revenues and $16,046,091 in expenses. $225,000 of the deficit will derive from an equipment note while the remaining $311,494 will be covered by county reserves.
Truth and Taxation
Prior to Tuesday night’s adoption of the 2010 budget and levy, Yellow Medicine County Commissioners held a Truth and Taxation hearing in order for property owners to have the opportunity to provide their input toward the determination of the county’s forthcoming spending and taxing levels.
Four individuals attended to speak on behalf of three issues that were more relevant to the Board of Equalization hearing not held until April and May.
Questions involved individual property valuations and increases to taxes. One farmer said that he had seen a 131 percent increase on approximately 240 acres of property resulting in a $4,000 hike in taxes. County Assessor Connie Erickson attributed the sizable increase to the shifting of the tax burden on to agricultural land as it’s value has risen, but said that it was more significantly due to the end of the Homestead Credit.
Echo Charter School Director Larry Schuler and Keith Anderson were in attendance, on behalf of the Echo Community Corporation. The non-profit owns the Echo Charter School and was recently informed that the school was eligible to be assessed for taxes.
As the school’s current assessed value, the property taxes run $16,000 per year. However if they go forward with a new gym addition it would raise taxes to over $40,000. Schuler and Anderson questioned why the state would tax money that had arrived from the state in the first place commenting that it was “inefficient and cut into the dollars that could be used for education.
Charter schools can be tax exempt under certain situations such as when the building is owned by a governmental organization or a church.
Erickson said that the non-profit could approach the township board during the Board of Equalization and ask for the building’s value to reassessed. She also mentioned that there was a push at the legislature to ease taxes for charter schools in similar situations.
Salary increase
Commissioners voted to adjust county salaries by a two percent increase. The increases were across the board including county union, non-union, sheriff, attorney and recorder positions.
After voting against a wage increase for themselves last year commissioners passed split a vote on whether to accept it for 2010. Commissioners Ron Antony and Dick Wambeke voted against the increase while Jane Remiger and Louis Sherlin voted for. Board Chair, Johnson broke the tie.
Meeting per diems for commissioners were voted to remain $40 for regular meetings and $80 for full day events.
