County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman reviewed 2017 progress and discussed goals for 2018 at its Truth in Taxation meeting held in the evening on December 12.
Some highlights in 2017 include participation in the effort to achieve County Program Aid (CPA) reform. This legislation resulted in a formula change which reduces the volatility of CPA from year to year. Fillmore County will get an additional $94,570 of CPA in 2018 or a total of $698,998.
During 2017, the courthouse security project began and will be completed in 2018. The 2018 budget includes funding for either a full-time court house security position or multiple part-time positions. The county continues with its Road Preservation Plan, making use of additional revenue from the local option sales tax. Recently, the Wheelage Tax was approved to provide more revenue for road improvement projects.
The county has implemented the first reading policy for its review of county policies to allow for employee and public review and input. The review of county policies is about 75% complete.
Telecommuting has contributed to efficiency. Other innovative technologies have been implemented. The county supported rural broadband with a $75,000 loan to Acentek for the rural Lanesboro project.
Goals for 2018 include the maintaining and building of the fund balance to reach state recommendations. This fund was used last year to make improvements to the highway building. Vickerman estimated there could be a $500,000 increase this year in the fund balance, but less of an increase than last year. Each employee position as it becomes vacant will be reviewed with a hire analysis form. The Airport Master Plan is to be implemented in 2018. The budget process will continue to be played out before the public. The county will provide another $75,000 loan to Acentek supporting rural broadband development, this time in rural Rushford.
2018 Budget
The expected expenditures for 2018 will top $31 million. This is about $3 million more than 2017. Vickerman explained much of this increase (over $2 million) is additional state and federal dollars coming into the county for highway, airport, and sanitation. These incoming funds for construction projects ebb and flow depending on scheduled projects.
The proposed cost of living increase for employees is 2.5%.
The county portion of the tax levy will likely be up less than 5% (or roughly a $600,000 increase). This represents about a $30 increase per capita over 2017. The 2017 levy equaled $472.52 per capita. Bakke requested a per capita comparison with other counties. The budget and levy will be certified at the county board’s December 19 meeting.
Discussion
The county board has directed Vickerman to reduce the budget from the preliminary increase of 5.6% approved in September to 4.9% or lower. The 5.6% increase is reflected in the 2018 proposed property tax statements received recently.
Due to changes in the health insurance options offered to employees, the county will get a savings of $40,275. Plans were offered that would not include Mayo Clinic. Employees were given the option to choose a plan including Mayo Clinic or to not include it. Vickerman noted there still are health insurance increases across the board, but they are much less.
Vickerman reported that the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) dividends received in 2017 and 2018 will be used to pay for court house security. The dividend for 2017 was about $89,000.
Chairman Randy Dahl noted that the state is projecting a deficit this year, which may lead to cuts from the state. He added that by consensus, the board has decided to fix the county jail to maintain it as a 90-day facility. He suggested related expenses could affect the county’s fund balance.
Dahl also expressed his concern that due to nine months without state prisoners, the income stream from the state for state prisoners was limited. The county continued to pay Sentence to Serve contract costs with no revenue coming in. He added he had no confidence in the sheriff’s budget at this point. All other department budgets are probably right on. Bakke suggested purchases of vehicles for the Sheriff Department may need to be pushed back.
Dahl maintained, “Our job is to do the best we can, levying the least we can.”
Performance Measure Outcomes
Each year the county participates in the state’s performance measurement program. In 2010 the legislature created the Council of Local Results and Innovation. Participation in the program is voluntary. Counties and cities that choose to participate in the standard measure program are eligible for reimbursement of 14 cents per capita.
Vickerman reported on the 13 performance goals submitted in 2017 for 2016. The first, reduce accidents on county roads. A total of seven injury crashes in 2016 was down from 2015, but fatalities were three compared to two in 2015. A Pavement Quality Index rating of 72 was met. Reduce tobacco use among adults to national average was not met as the performance measure was 14% nationally compared to 15% in Fillmore County.
Child support program cost effectiveness was met. The county collects $7.18 for every dollar spent on the program. However, this is down from 2015. The state average is $3.30. Fillmore County is the second lowest in southeast Minnesota at 2.8% on the percentage of low birth-weight births. State and national percentages are 6%.
The measure for the median ratio to fall between 90% and 105% for three types of assessment ratios was met (93 to 96%). The 10-day turn around time for document recording was met.
The performance measure for 100% post-election results was reached in 2016. An increase of 5% of state and federal dollars brought into the county for veterans benefits was met (increased 5.07%). Maintain 85% of veterans receiving services and/or benefits was met. Out of 1,483 veterans in the county, 1,300 are using some form of federal or state benefits, which is over 85%.
Goal of 7,200 per 1,000 residents to visit a library was not met. In 2016, 6,200 per 1,000 residents visited the library, which was slightly less than 2015. Goal to keep debt service levy under 11%, which is the state goal, was easily met. Fillmore County was at 2.89% in 2016. The county has only one debt service loan at this time. A 40% recycling rate at municipal solid waste was met; the rate for 2016 was 42%.