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BACKUS-Jeff Woodford, Cass County Veterans Services officer, presented the state's annual report to the county board Tuesday, showing the number of Cass veterans and pensions paid to them declined slightly from 2014 to 2015.

There were 3,311 veterans in Cass in 2015, compared with 3,355 in 2014. Compensation and pensions declined from $14,183,000 paid in 2014 to $13,912,000 in 2015.

Educational and vocational training benefits declined from $395,000 in 2014 to $304,000 in 2015.

Medical care, however, rose from $13,277,000 in 2014 to $15,583,000 in 2015. Woodford said pension benefit totals and educational benefits rise and fall from year to year, but medical costs have shown a steady rise in the last five years.

He said about 52 percent of Cass veterans take advantage of the veteran administration medical care program.

Cass's average annual benefit per veteran also declined from $4,227 to $4,201. Cass ranks 17th highest in average annual benefit per veteran among counties in the state and 16th highest in medical benefits paid.

Woodford also noted the Legislature voted this year to exempt veteran pensions from state income taxes, saving veterans an average of $2,100 annually in state income taxes. Minnesota became one of 13 states to exempt veteran pensions.

Hackensack American Legion donated $650 to the county's veteran transportation program last month. That county volunteer driver program enabled veterans to ride 56,096 miles to reach medical services. There were 230 riders during the year in 2015.

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