At the September 22 meeting of the county board, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery presented three 2027 preliminary levy options.
The options ranged from an increase of 8.47% down to an increase of 7%. She has been working with department heads to find savings. Commissioner Duane Bakke noted a 1% increase equals about $130,000.
Bakke suggested that the board look at the level of employee health insurance paid by the county; the board should consider increasing employee contributions at some point. For employee only policies the county pays 97% of the cost, for employee and children the county pays 87% of the cost, and for family coverage the county pays 87%. Medical insurance rates from Medica increased 9.9% for 2027. The Benefits Committee requested there be no change to employee premiums. There were no rate changes for other employee insurances, like dental, vision, disability, or life. The board approved 2027 benefits as recommended by the Benefit Committee.
Bakke said he would still like to see the levy increase reduced to 6.5%.
Hillery didn’t think changing the level of county-covered health insurance premiums to reduce the levy at this time was the way to go. It could considered next year. She noted Bakke’s suggestion a few years ago saved the county about 4% of the total health insurance cost. He had suggested offering Payment in Lieu, which is a financial incentive paid to an employee who chooses to waive the county’s group health insurance plan.
Commissioner Mitch Lentz said he didn’t see how to keep the levy increase this low considering the county is paying for shifts from the federal government passed down through the state. Chairman Randy Dahl noted auditors have recommended the county increase its fund balance so it could cover five months of expenditures.
Hillery maintained a 6.5% increase can be managed. One of the larger budget reductions proposed is in the Highway Department. Upgrades of some of the equipment will be made with good used equipment rather than new.
Commissioner Marc Prestby said he wanted the levy increase to be reduced to 5.99%.
A motion to set the 2027 preliminary levy increase at 6.5% was unanimously approved. Lentz confirmed before the vote that no positions or services would be cut. Actually, one additional position at Solid Waste is still included.
The preliminary levy can be reduced but not increased when the final levy and budget is considered in December. The preliminary levy payable in 2027 will total $15,497,394. Of the 6.5% increase, 4.1% is the county increase over last year and the balance of 2.4% is the federal shift of costs to the state which then passed some of the federal costs down to counties.
Other Business in Brief
• A resolution was adopted to declare a state of emergency due to the September 18-19 flooding event. Emergency Manager Jason Harmening said this is the first step in asking for an Emergency Declaration. Over $350,000 in damages have been reported; Harmening said it is early, more damages are expected to be reported.
• Laura Whitacre and Paige Trones representing the Women’s Shelter, presented a proclamation proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation was approved; it dedicates Domestic Violence Awareness Month to the memory of Madeline Kingsbury and all victims’ lives taken too soon.
Dave and Cathy Kingsbury made statements. Dave, Madeline’s father, said it is hard to express the enormity of the effect it had on their family. Cathy added more needs to be done in providing these services.
Approval was granted for a “We Remember” display in the courthouse. To heighten awareness, some businesses will be purchasing domestic violence awareness bracelets, making them available to customers. National “purple” day will be on October 22.
Statistics in Fillmore County related to domestic violence were cited. The use of Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment form by law enforcement was recommended. Chatfield Police Department will join the Women’s Shelter and Support Center using the Lethality Assessment Program during domestic violence calls.
• A resolution requesting that the 2027 state legislature recognize the need to sustain deputy registrar offices and to enact a permanent state revenue sharing fund for deputy registrars was adopted; this is to be sourced with 50% of the existing filing fee revenue to be disbursed quarterly among all deputy registrar offices in Minnesota. Sean Feind, Department of Motor Vehicles, Licensing Center, explained the need for revenue sharing to maintain local DMV offices. This request will be added to the county’s list of legislative priorities.
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) President and CEO Benya Kraus gave an overview of SMIF and the organization’s work over the last 40 years. This is the first time Kraus has come before the board since she was made president and CEO of SMIF. SMIF’s activity in Fillmore County has been centered on early childhood, entrepreneurship, and community vitality. For every dollar donated by the county, $32 has been invested back into the county. Twenty counties in the region invest in SMIF. Kraus thanked the board for past appropriations. Hillery said a $2,000 appropriation for SMIF is in the current budget for 2027.
• Auditor/Treasurer Heather Broadwater provided an update of 2026 Tax Forfeiture Land. Tax Forfeiture properties have property taxes delinquent for a minimum of three years and no payment has been received and no plan has been established before the Date of Redemption.
A resolution outlining terms for sale of Tax-Forfeited Land was approved as recommended. First, there will be an online 30-day auction (public surplus) from November 2 through December 1; properties will be offered at no less than their estimated market value. A second online 10-day auction for no less than the minimum bid price (public surplus) will run from December 2 through December 11. Four tax-forfeited properties are to be offered for sale through this process. All the properties will be sold “as is.”
• Approval was granted to reinvest a matured CD in the amount of $21,301 with Alerus (Spring Valley) for 24 months at a 4.40% interest rate.
• The retirement of Todd Kokinos, Highway Maintenance Specialist, was approved with thanks, effective November 19, after 33 years of service. A request to advertise for a replacement Maintenance Specialist, effective September 23 was approved.
• The Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan was adopted in January 2017. The plan has been reviewed; a resolution was adopted supporting the submission of the plan renewal amendment to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).
• A resolution was adopted listing the official signers for the Inmate Canteen Account.
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