County Board to consider 2% levy increase for 2015

The McLeod County Board will consider a 2 percent levy increase for 2015 after a workshop session Tuesday morning.
The item will be on the County Board’s regular meeting agenda Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The County Board on Tuesday looked at the potential impact of tax increases of 0 percent to 4 percent at the workshop, and the impact of the tax increases on different types of property.
County Auditor-Treasurer Cindy Schultz strongly urged the Board to consider putting any additional revenue generated by a levy increase into a reserve fund.
“If you increase the levy at all, set it aside for salary increases,” said Schultz.
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the County Board agreed to hire a consultant for a new compensation and classification study for its employees.
Commissioner Sheldon Nies agreed with Schultz.
“That’s the only way we would do it (increase the levy), in my mind,” said Nies.
Board Chair Paul Wright also agreed that the county should build some funds to accommodate the outcome of the study.
“I’d rather see a small increase now than to put it off and have a bigger increase later,” said Wright. Wright said it is unknown what kind of salary increases may come as the county implements the results of the study, but the county needs to prepare now.
A 2 percent levy increase will generate an additional $365,872 in revenue for the county.

For more, see the Sept. 24 print edition of The Chronicle.