At the June 8 Fillmore County Board meeting, the schedule for the 2022 budgeting process was set.
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery said she will start meeting with department heads this day. She noted that the consumer price index was up 4.2% from April 2020 to April 2021. From January 2020 (pre-pandemic) to April 2021, consumer prices increased 3.5%.
The board discussed the number to be used in the budget process for a possible cost of living increase. Hillery said wages are a big part of the budget. Last year the cost of living increase was set at 2%. She said it is hard to increase that number later; for budgeting purposes she suggested they plug in a 3% increase. It can go down but it is hard to have it go up.
By consensus the board agreed to plug in a 3% increase for budgeting purposes. Hillery made it clear this is not an automatic increase, but it is necessary to plug a number into the budgeting process. The cost of living allowance (COLA) will be set in December.
The other big cost driver is health insurance. Hillery reported their consultant suggested a 12% health insurance increase for budgeting purposes. Hopefully, this will come down.
The third budgeting issue is possible added positions. She suggested department heads, that believe an added position is needed in their department, can include a position in their proposed budget. July 16 is the deadline for departments to submit departmental budgets to the administrator. The board will review preliminary departmental budgets at board meetings from early July through September 7. The proposed preliminary 2022 budget and proposed tax levy payable in 2022 are adopted in September. The Truth In Taxation public hearing will be held in late November or in December. The final 2022 budget and levy will be adopted prior to or on December 31.
2022 performance measures
Fillmore County has continued to participate in the Performance Measurement Program created a decade ago by the Council on Local Results and Innovation. Participation by a county makes it eligible for a 14 cent per capita reimbursement. To receive the reimbursement the county must file a report with the Office of the State Auditor by July 1. The county has been participating every year. The county must report at least 10 of 27 possible standard measurements. Fillmore County has generally reported on 13 measurements. The specific measurements to report on this year were determined last year.
Commissioner Duane Bakke suggested some different measurement standards be selected for next year’s Performance Measurement Program. Some of his suggestions included crime rates, the percent of adult offenders with a new felony conviction within three years of discharge, debt service levy per capita and outstanding debt per capita, and the work force participation rate among MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) and DWP (Diversionary Work Program) recipients.
Commissioner Mitch Lentz wants the measurements to be data driven. Chairman Randy Dahl said he felt it was important to track how we are doing. Hillery said she will work with department heads on the direction the commissioners want to go with the measurements.
A resolution for the county’s participation in the program was approved.
Other business in brief
•Jason Marquardt, Veterans Services Officer, was appointed to serve as a member of the Extension Committee in place of the auditor/treasurer per statute.
•Approval was given for Hillery to attend and stay overnight for the Minnesota Association of County Administrators Technical Day (July 29-30) in Duluth.
•Internet Security Policies were discussed that were developed by Marco. Hillery suggested the commissioners take time to read through the policies and then consider the first reading of the three policies at the next board meeting. The policies are based on cyber security rules.
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