By MaryHelen Swanson

The agenda for the special Sept. 14 Chisago County Board meeting had three items: convene, discuss and adopt 2006 preliminary budget and levy, adjourn.

But the meeting didnít go as simple as that and in the end, the approved 8.3 percent levy increase could mean different things to different property owners.

According to County Administrator John Moosey, as he explained the meaning of the action taken by the board last week, if your property valuation does not increase, you could see a 6.7 percent savings over 2005.

But if your valuation goes up 12 percent, you will see a 4.5 percent increase in property taxes. If your valuation increase is less than 6 percent you may stay the same or see a slight decrease.

The commissioners struggled with three budget scenarios. The one proposed by Moosey contained a core budget showing a 6.4 percent increase. That was a basic budget, noted Moosey and included essential increases in personnel costs, gas, fuel, etc.

But, Moosey noted at the beginning of the meeting that there are other items that need to be addressed. The ìmenuî of other items had a price tag of over $10 million. The levy that was adopted by the board did not include items off of Mooseyís menu.

A major item that affects the taxes each year is the growth in the county. In 2004, there was a total market value increase of 11.3 percent ñ about half of what it has been in recent years. Of that figure, 3.7 percent is due to new construction, the rest is due to valuation increases.

The levy adopted last week, on a 3-2 vote (Olseen and Montzka opposed) does not include funding for the County Road 17 bridge interchange project, nor funding for the new jail (land purchase), nor for the much needed Health and Human Services building, nor capital equipment purchases or any new services that might be provided to the citizens, said Moosey.

It means the county must put all of its plans on hold another year. Moosey said the county is becoming expert at putting stuff off until next year, an action not condoned by County Auditor Dennis Freed who believes that if it is important, then the county should levy for it.

Give the tax payers a break
At the meeting, Commissioner Mike Robinson advocated for a much lower increase saying he wanted to give a break to the constituents who are already going to be hit hard this year with increased gas, fuel, grocery and other costs of living.

A 10 percent increase, he said, was way out of line. He said the one thing the county can control is the tax increase.

Commissioner Ben Montzka brought forth another budget scenario that fell between Mooseyís budget and Robinsonís proposed budget, lowering the amount to be bonded for major projects and fully funding the libraries.

A serious point of contention was the funding for the libraries. By state mandate, noted Auditor Freed, the county has to pay $425,000 to the regional library system. The budget also included $28,000 for additional hours at the countyís libraries and another $1,000 for per diems.

Commissioner Lynn Schultz said it would be hard to justify full funding of the library to the other departments who are getting less than they have requested.

The commissioners were torn between simply setting the top limit for the 2006 levy and making internal changes in the budget this fall before the final adoption in December or going through the budget line item by line item.

Administrator cautions board about cuts
Moosey cautioned that if the board cuts the departments any further to add to another area, the departments are going to have a hard time going into 2007.

Regarding the library funding, Moosey said the county was trying to keep department increases to 4-5 percent. Last year the library got an 18 percent increase, he noted, and this budget calls for a 15 percent increase.

Itís subject to debate, he said, the library may not get everything it asks for.

During the meeting last week, Sheriff Todd Rivard responded to Commissioner Bob Gustafsonís question on how little the county can get away with in the progress toward a new jail.

Rivard said the county could retain the waiver from the state on the additional beds in the current facility only as long as the county shows progress on the jail project. The waiver allows for double bunking to address the jail crowding issue.

This week Moosey said the same thing. The county has to move forward on a jail or lose that waiver or plan on paying $300,000-$400,000 to transport and board out prisoners.

The county will pay one way or the other, he said. Either way, Moosey said, itís going to cost the county.

Moosey said heíd probably be making some kind of recommendation to the board on this subject during budget discussions that will continue this fall.

Another priority he feels needs to be considered is the funding to the senior center.

ìTheyíre operating on a shoestring,î he said. The adopted budget did not give full funding to the senior center and the county needs to do it, he said.

Yet another priority not included in the budget is the building for Health and human Services. ìWe need more space,î Moosey said, ìwe donít have a choice.î

He went on to say that if the county doesnít want to provide funding for this, then it should consider getting rid of the service.

Moosey said there should be more discussions on the budget in October and November.

In preparing for the 2006 year, Chisago County commissioners held only one full-board budget session this summer, Sept. 14, the day before the preliminary was to be set.

A public tax hearing is set for Dec. 1, final levy and budget adoption comes at the end of December.

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