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BACKUS - Cass County department heads have worked with the citizen budget committee to find another $500,000 to cut from their budget proposals this year, so actual proposed 2012 county expenditures will be $935,054 less than 2011.

Administrator Robert Yochum reported to the county board Tuesday this will enable the county to carry a $640,405 contingency fund in 2012, compared with a $1 million contingency in 2011.

While Yochum, Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe and the budget committee have suggested the anticipated 2012 exit money the county expects to receive from South Country Health Alliance should also be added to the contingency, Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk suggested Tuesday the board consider using the South Country money to lower the county levy instead. The board took no action on either suggestion Tuesday.

The county used most of the 2011 contingency fund to offset lost state aids. None of those state funding sources lost in 2011 are expected to return.

The board did accept for consideration the budget committee recommendations for 2012, but will not act on them until after the 6 p.m. Dec. 8 Truth in Taxation public hearing on the budget at the courthouse in Walker.

Among the committee recommendations are continuing to fund Pine River and Pillager Fairs and Cass County Historical Society ($5,000 each), the Initiative Foundation ($16,350), Cass County Economic Development Corporation ($37,000) and Mississippi Headwaters Board ($1,500) at the same levels in 2012 as 2011.[[In-content Ad]]

Though the current budget proposal allows 100 percent maintenance of effort level funding for Kitchigami Library, the budget committee recommends taking advantage of new legislation that would allow the county to cut back to the newly allowable 90 percent maintenance of effort level.

Before deciding on this issue, the county board wants to know how the library system would have to cut services in order to operate on less money.

As the 2012 budget proposal stands now, lost state aids and a lower tax base due to decreased property values mean the county tax rate will rise about 0.9 percent even though total expenditures are scheduled to be essentially the same in 2012 as 2011, Wolfe said.

Cass County will post on the county website, www.co.cass.mn.us, by Nov. 10 a comparison chart that will show the impact of the state's changes from homestead credit to market value credit and the impact of proposed 2012 budgets for homeowners in each of the county's 104 taxing districts.

These estimates will show 2011/2012 comparisons for homes valued at $76,000, $125,000 and $225,000. Those looking up this reference guide will need to know the city or town where their home is located and the school district.

Tuesday, the board voted to expand the county's contract with Honeywell to identify and implement energy savings measures for building operations, hoping to cut operating costs in 2012.

The board accepted a county employee insurance committee recommendation to raise the county's share of contributions toward health insurance $22 per month in 2012 and employee costs between 2.75 and 5 percent for single person policies, depending upon the level of coverage each employee chooses. Family policies will drop less than one percent.

Health plans have options of $3,000, $2,500, $1,500 or $500 deductibles.

The county also offers a health care savings account option, life insurance, short- and long-term disability and dental coverages.

Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.

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