June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Commissioners set 2011 levy rate same as 2010
They also set the Longville Ambulance Service District levy the same as 2010 -- $461,000.
This will mean a 3.15 percent increase in the 2011 county levy rate to 28.563, because there has been insufficient construction in the last year to fully offset the 5.2 percent decline in the county's assessed value of existing properties.
The 2011 levy rate is about the same as 2009, but still well below the peak rate during the last decade of 48.018 reached in 2002.
State law allows the county to lower its budget, but not raise it when adopting a final 2011 budget in December.
Since the recession began in 2008, Cass has eliminated 20 full-time equivalent employee positions and now employs 252 people. The county did not hire summer intern positions, laid off 11 people, didn't fill 12 vacancies following resignations and eliminated two vacant positions.[[In-content Ad]]Total department income from other funding sources is projected to be down $1,215,078, according to Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe. Total department requests for the 2011 budget are down $1,748,489.
Cass' proposed budget assumes no cost of living adjustments for the pay plan, but does allow employees to advance one step (about 3 percent). This would be an offset to a 3 percent health insurance increase.
The county's contracts with five union bargaining units run out at the end of 2010, so proposed pay rates ultimately will depend on the outcome of negotiations with those union representatives this fall.
Individual departments will not be allowed to carry over money budgeted for 2010 into 2011.
The proposed budget calls for setting aside a $1,016,154 contingency fund to cover potential state and federal funding losses and any variation in labor costs.
The total county budget, funded by revenue from state and federal money and fees for services as well as the levy, is anticipated to run $49,295,982 or slightly under the 2008 and 2009 budgets and about $2 million less than 2010.
It includes $12,849,950 for salaries and $10,371,128 for fringe benefits.
It includes $5,000 each for Cass County Historical Society and the Pine River and Pillager Fairs, $16,350 for the Initiative Foundation and $1,500 for Mississippi Headwaters Board. The historical society, fairs and Initiative Foundation received less than these full allocations in 2010 as the county cut costs during the year.
The budget committee recommended the county board leave vacant at this time three positions (one each in the sheriff's office, probation and environmental services) and consider filling them during the year in 2011.
Acting as the town board for the unorganized townships, Cass commissioners also set the 2011 township budget at $245,000, the same as 2010.
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