Cass County Board: County salaries and budget set for 2023

   BACKUS —County Administrator Josh Stevenson requested for the board to motion and approve numerous personnel contracts at the Tuesday, Dec. 20 Cass County board meeting. The first contract presented for approval was compensation of elected officials  for 2023 to set the annual salary for the amount of $30,710 with the per diem payment remaining the same as prior years at $75 per day for attendance at approved meetings. Commissioner Jeff Peterson opposed this motion as he felt the annual salary amount should remain the same as 2022, however, the motion carried with a four to one vote. The board appointed citizen committee per diem rate will also remain the same as 2022 at $75 per day, with the planning commission regular monthly meetings and field visits per diem being $150 per day.

   Salaries for the elected officials County Attorney Ben Lindstrom, Sheriff-Elect Bryan Welk and County Recorder Katie Norby were also approved. Lidstrom will recieve a 3% increase July 1, putting his annual salary at $134,888 per year, while Norby will receive a 5% increase Jan. 1, with an annual salary of $90,916.80. Welk requested during his negotiations to be set at a Step 6 on the county pay scale, rather than the customary Step 4 with the election of a new Sheriff. Therefore, Welk’s annual salary beginning Jan. 1 will be set at $115,169.60 and will receive a 3% increase July 1 when he moves from Step 6 to Step 7.

   Stevenson also presented Labor Contract renewals for Law Enforcement Labor Services, Operating Engineers and Non-Union Personnel. All proposed contracts are for a three year period with a 5% cost of living adjustment on Jan. 1 and 3% Step increase on July 1. The Operation Engineers will also receive an increase to use of comp. time hours during the year and a clothing allowance increase. 

   Chief Financial Officer Sandra Norikane also presented the 2023 property tax levy by fund; revenues and expenditures by fund; unorganized levy, revenues and expenditures; equipment list by fund; fee schedule; published budget and the 2022 indirect cost transfers.

   The board approved the proposed levy with having an increase of 5.06% over the 2022 levy, for a total levy amount of $25,331,700. The final levy was reduced by 1.91% by use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, salary vacancies, grant approval for equipment replacement and increased revenue from departmental gas usage.

   The approved Cass 2023 budget, including state, federal and other revenues, calls for $80,283,518 in revenue and $80,402,065 in expenditures. The only department requesting higher expenditures than revenues is general revenue. The board also approved a levy in the amount of $245,000 and a revenue budget and expenditure budget in the amount of $300,000 each for the Unorganized Townships.

   The board approved the annual new equipment purchase list, totaling $2,433,521 and the 2023 updated fee schedule. The new equipment purchase list includes computer equipment and software, office furniture, vehicles and equipment maintenance agreements.