Isanti County is joining with other counties in the state in sending a message to state legislators regarding the endorsement of the revised County Program Aid formula developed by the Association of Minnesota Counties.
Isanti County Administrator Kevin VanHooser explained the AMC is asking all 87 counties in Minnesota to approve a resolution endorsing revisions to the Minnesota County Program Aid formula developed by AMC’s County Program Aid work group. The resolution states Isanti County endorses the following revisions:
• A funding increase of $40 million.
• The creation of a funding floor that guarantees each county $350,000 in tax base equalization aid.
• Adjustments to the TBEA formula factors to slow down counties’ loss of TBEA funding, including an increase of the per capita factor to $190 and a decrease of the county adjusted net tax capacity factor to 9 percent.
• The elimination of special funds and transition aid.
• The creation of a 5 percent cap on annual County Program Aid losses; ensuring no county will lose more than 5 percent of its funding each year.
“This resolution sends a message to the state legislators that counties can work together to come up with a compromise on County Program Aid funding and states that we have mandates that do come before us that are not 100 percent funded,” Board Chair Greg Anderson said.
The resolution notes the revisions in the County Program Aid are necessary because the current formula’s inadequacies have resulted in the dramatic reduction of funding for one-third of counties that have lost at least 50 percent of its funding since 2005.
The resolution also states the revised County Program Aid formula, in conjunction with additional funding, will enable counties to continue to provide quality services that may also translate into reduction in county levies, decreasing the tax burden of Minnesota residents.
“We see the fluctuation in allocation that comes to us, and we have our programs that are mandated; this will help us cover those costs,” said Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris. “We haven’t been as negatively impacted as some counties, but this will bring equalization across the board to all counties across the state. When you have a million dollar swing of what is allocated to you, that really affects things.”
Morris noted the revised County Program Aid formula projects a $271,000 increase in the formula for Isanti County in 2016.
In other action the board:
• Set a public hearing for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 16 for purposes of reviewing and adopting the 2016 county fee schedule.
• Set a public hearing for 9:45 a.m. Dec. 16 to consider amending the Isanti County Liquor Ordinance. The county’s liquor license does not currently address on-sale or off-sale licenses for a micro distillery. The board will also discuss adding a fee for transferring a liquor license.
• Approved an agreement with the University of Minnesota Extension and Isanti County for providing Extension programs locally and employing Extension staff, including a full-time 4-H program coordinator and a full-time horticultural program coordinator. The agreement is effective Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2018.
• Set the year-end County Board meeting for 9 a.m. Dec. 30 for the purpose of conducting any year-end business.
• Set the annual County Board meeting for 9:15 a.m. Jan. 5.
• Approved an additional funding request from county surveyor Don Hansen in the amount of $4,000 to finish up county surveying work for the year. It was noted the surveying budget from last year had approximately $4,000 left over that was put into the general fund.
• Accepted a DNR snowmobile grant for the purposes of snowmobile patrol for the sheriff’s office in the amount of $4,389 in 2016 and $4,389 in 2017.
• Ratified the hire of Todd Willenbring, full-time deputy sheriff, effective Nov. 30.
• Approved a request from Isanti County Sheriff Chris Caulk to purchase a 2014 all-wheel-drive Dodge Charger police car in the amount of $25,000 from Dodge of Burnsville. Caulk said this vehicle will be one of the three vehicles purchased as discussed as part of the 2016 budget process. He said by purchasing the vehicle now, as opposed to waiting to 2016, the county will save $2,778. The funding will come from the 2015 reserves, with the respective reduction coming from the 2016 sheriff department budget. Caulk noted the vehicle will replace a 2008 Crown Victoria that has become very expensive to maintain. Considerable discussion took place regarding this request, as the board pointed out the 2016 budget has not yet been finalized and adopted.
• Approved an application by the Isanti County Sportsmen Club to conduct off-site gambling for a raffle to be held Jan. 23 at the Isanti County Fairgrounds.
• Approved a resolution regarding the support of a job creation fund application in connection with DairiConcepts in Dalbo. The application will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. VanHooser noted the company is planning an expansion and the creation of new jobs.