At its Tuesday, September 24 board meeting Cook County commissioners approved the maximum tax levy for 2020 at $ 10.38 million. This is a 6.05 percent increase over 2019.
All Minnesota counties are required by law to set their maximum property tax levy by the end of September. The final levy can be set lower or kept at 6.05 percent, but it can’t be raised higher than 6.05 percent for 2020.
During recent town hall meetings commissioners discussed setting the maximum levy at 5.03 percent, but Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers explained there were several factors that prompted the budget committee to ask for it to be raised about one percent higher.
“The county discussed a proposed levy increase of 5.03 percent at the town hall meetings. There was also discussion of adding a small amount of capital reserves, with the understanding that capital reserves may be reduced if we were not successful in getting relief from the proposed Thye-Blatnik PILT reduction this fall.
“The budget committee reviewed the proposed levy on September 16, which includes other recent budget changes, including increase to capital reserves.
They also reviewed the current property valuations that are estimated to increase 7.8 percent for 2020 and the effect of the valuation increases. Properties with no change in valuation or classification could see a slight reduction in property taxes for 2020 at a levy increase of 6.05 percent,” said Powers.
At this time the proposed levy calls for increases of 1.2 percent for Public Safety; 0.2 percent for Public Health and Human Services; 0.3 percent for Road & Bridge; 2.3 percent for General Government; and 2.1 percent for Future Capital needs.
In preparing the levy Powers said the budget committee factored in a possible decrease in federal revenues, an increase in health care costs, an increase in wages for staff, plans for future capital needs and maintaining the investments for transportation, public safety, and public health and human services.
Noting that the hospital board had just increased its 2020 levy, Commissioner Bobby Deschampe said, “People are getting hit from all sides,” with increasing taxes. And Deschampe called for a motion to set the preliminary levy at 4.75 percent. Commissioner Dave Mills seconded it, and then a discussion ensued.
Citing the uncertainty of the 2020 Thye Blatnick payment to the county, which is expected to be substantially less than what the county usually gets, Commissioner Myron Bursheim asked commissioners to set the levy at 6.05 percent. Once the Thye Blatnik payment is known, which should be by the end of November, the commissioners would have more information to help it in the budget process, he said.
“I’m not opposing what you say,” he told Commissioner Deschampe, “but it’s better to have that discussion in December when we might know more.”
“We have the option to set it (levy) high and then drop it down,” said Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk. “In December, we might end up at 4.75 percent.”
Board chair Ginny Storlie called for a vote on Deschampe’s motion and it failed.
Commissioner Mills noted the county had been “kicking the can” down the road on the highway and building funds. “I’m more comfortable kicking one of those cans down the road, but not both of them.”
Commissioner Storlie cautioned against using money from the general fund to reduce the levy, saying that if there was a recession, the county would need those funds to pay its bills. She also said she preferred setting a financial strategy for the next 10-20 years. Mills added that he didn’t want to see a “roller coaster of levies,” but wanted stability in the budget.
With that, Mills called for a motion to set the levy at 6.05 percent, seconded by Bursheim and approved by the board.
Commissioners will work with staff to finalize the 2020 budget over the next few months, and set the 2020 levy on December 17.
County insurance plan
After sitting down with representatives of Blue Cross/Blue Shield to discuss the current county’s health insurance plan, the benefits committee recommended that the county stick with the current 831 Health Insurance Plan and to offer an additional HSA 971 Health Insurance plan, which has lower premiums. Commissioners approved the renewal of the current plan and addition of the second option, which represents a 2.4 percent hike over last year’s insurance plan. The cost is included in the 2020 proposed budget.
Open enrollment for 2020 begins November 1, 2019 for 2020.
Public administration consultants
With current county administrator Jeff Cadwell’s last day on the job coming up soon, the search has begun to find a firm which can help the board find a replacement for Jeff.
Administrator Cadwell presented letters and information about six consulting groups who have said they would like to work with the commissioners on finding a new county administrator.
After weighing the merits of the proposals from the consulting firms, the board chose to talk to the county MATT team first before hiring a consulting firm. Commissioner Bursheim said it was important to get feedback from the county employees and public first before making a decision on whom to hire.
Land Services
Tim Nelson, Land Services director requested that Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) board accept the administration of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention program, along with the annual funding.
“This looks like the best fit and structure for the A.I.S. program,” he said.
The last few years the AIS program has been managed by the AIS Task Force, along with a contracted individual to administer and oversee several seasonal temporary watercraft and boat landing inspectors. In order to follow best management practices, Nelson said, it would be more appropriate to make the contracted individual an actual employee in order to supervise temporary employees.
“As such, along with the desire to see the program managed under one entity, we are seeking authorization from the Board of Commissioners to request the Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District Board to accept responsibility for the administration of the Aquatic Invasive Species prevention program starting January 1, 2020.
Nelson said SWCD had expressed an interest in accepting responsibility for the program. Commissioner Doo-Kirk motioned with a second from commissioner Mills and full support from the board to ask Soil and Water to take on administration of the A.I.S. program.
Planning and Zoning Director Bill Lane came before the board with some “housekeeping” needs to address. The main thing was to amend a 2018 amendment to the 2001 tower ordinance. Lane said the amendment needed to be made to reflect the current technology. Commissioners unanimously passed the amendment.
• Commissioners set the date for the Truth in Taxation public meeting for Thursday, December 5 at 6 p.m. in the commissioner’s room.
• A public hearing to consider changes to the county fee schedule will be held November 12 at 9:30 a.m. The county recorder will be requesting a change to a fee that will take effect in 2020, and there may be some updates to other county fees as well.
• Cook County attorney Molly Hicken came before the board to address the period of time between the county losing its current administrator to the time when a new administrator will be hired.
• Nesgoda Services was approved to do the Firewise work on the 5.4-acre Poplar II project for up to $18,000.
• Richard Wojcik was hired as a custodian to clean the Y.
• Minnesota Rural Counties (MRC) Executive Director Dan Larson came before the board with an update on Minnesota Rural Counties activities. Cook County was a charter member of MRC but later voted to leave the group that advocates for rural county concerns.
After talking about MRC’s current work to bring broadband to rural Minnesota, and its earlier efforts to help establish the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) which helps fund trails and parks for rural Minnesota, Larson asked commissioners if they had any questions. Currently 17 rural counties belong to the organization.
Commissioner Mills asked why counties come and go from the organization. Larson responded by saying that every year counties made that determination to stay in or leave, and it was up to them to make that decision.
Commissioner Storlie thanked Dan for his presentation and the board will make a decision to join—or not join—MRC at a future meeting.
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