County Administrator Bobbie Hillery detailed past operations and county goals and objectives at the Truth in Taxation public hearing on December 13.
Hillery focused on the installation of updated or upgraded technology for improved cyber security. The contract with Schneider Geospatial is continued to provide data and access to information without cost to the taxpayer who wants to access data.
Budgeting and the ongoing planning process for the jail have been reviewed and discussed at county board meetings open to the public. This year has seen the transition from Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted (DFO) Corrections to Fillmore County Community Corrections.
In 2010 the legislature created the Council on Local Results and Innovation. Fillmore County has participated each year submitting performance goals and outcomes. Each county or city that participates is reimbursed 14 cents per capita.
Fillmore County submitted 13 outcomes for 2021-2022:
• Reduce total number of accidents on county and township roads: in 2021 there were two fatalities and 45 injuries.
• Maintain pavement condition index rating of 72: in 2021 the rating was 70, lower than the 73 rating in 2020.
• A goal to keep tobacco use among adults under the national benchmark was not reached in 2021: national 17%, Minnesota 16%, and county 20%.
• Fillmore County continues do well, always in the top five of the state, on the cost effectiveness of child support program: in 2021 Fillmore County collected $6.12 for every $1.00 spent.
• The county continued to perform well on the number of low birth weight births: county is at 5%; the national percentage is at 8%.
• Maintain assessment ratios between 90% and 105% for three classifications: in 2020 and 2021 this goal was met for commercial/industrial, ag/rural, and residential.
• The 10-day turnaround time for document recording was again reached in 2021.
• The goal of 100% post-election results was reached in 2021.
• A goal to increase by 5% state and federal dollars brought in for county veteran benefits was not reached: in 2021 there was a decrease of 1%.
• A goal to maintain 85% of veterans receiving services/benefits was reached in 2021.
• A goal for library visits of 7,200 per 1,000 residents was not reached: in 2021 only 3,421 visited a library per 1,000 residents. For 2022 the goal has been reduced to 5,000 visits.
• The goal to keep the debt service levy under 11% was reached: the debt service levy was at 2.32% for 2021.
• A goal to achieve a 40% recycling rate of Municipal Solid Waste was not reached: the recycling rate for 2021 was 30.99%, which was up from 26% in 2020.
Hillery discussed goals and objectives for 2023, which included maintaining and building the fund balance, continuing Airport Master Plan and building the new terminal arrival building with grant dollars, and continuing and reviewing outside contracts for managed IT and GIS. The county has received over $4 million in American Recovery Act dollars; options for use of those dollars will be discussed. The jail needs and design process and the option to construct a new jail will continue to be considered.
2023 budget and levy
Hillery illustrated expenditure trends from 2017 through those expected in 2023. Highway, airport, and sanitation are the most volatile due to the differences in state and federal funds available to those departments in a given year. Most other areas gradually trend higher as expected. The 2023 budget includes a 4.5% increase in salaries for non-union employees and a 7.5% increase in the cost of health insurance.
The 2023 budget includes one additional sheriff’s deputy, a budgeted PSAP (public safety answering points) position, one less position in social services, one less position in administration, and one less position in the Recorder’s office.
With the creation of Fillmore County Corrections, the corrections budget was reduced by $208,744.
Revenues from 2017 through those projected for 2023 are also affected by an influx of intergovernmental revenues (state and federal dollars) in certain years. The state paid portion of the tax levy (disparity aid) has been constant each year at $119,773. The county portion of tax levy has increased gradually from $9,739,924 in 2017 to $12,279,522 in 2023.
In 2023 County Program Aid increased by $125,000. Police state aid has been increasing each year. Fillmore County Community Corrections was able to obtain Department of Correction state dollars at the same level as when housed through DFO. Community Corrections director Tom Jensen will start applying for other available grants in February.
Local Option Sales Tax revenue is increased by $650,000.
The county board will consider certifying the 2023 final budget and levy at their December 20 meeting. The proposed levy increase is 3.95%
There were no comments from the public.
Hillery noted working through the budget process is a lot of work for all department heads. She concluded by thanking them for all their efforts.
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