Freeborn County commissioners voted to freeze their salaries and increase the tax levy for 2011 by 5.6 percent, which is down from the 7.9 percent increase originally forecast.

In September, the board proposed a 2011 tax levy of $19,043,427, which was 7.9 percent over the 2010 levy of $17,648,678.

There were several reasons for this increase, including an additional $500,000 to the road and bridge fund to put more gravel on rural roads and fix highway equipment, which was taken out of last year’s levy; $475,000 to the radio bond debt for ARMER, which is a new radio system for law enforcement; and an additional $8,000 to the soil and water conservation.

According to District 1 Commissioner Christopher Shoff, to bond for ARMER, the county was required to increase the levy by $475,000.

“We chose to pay for ARMER as a county rather than having the small communities pay for that,” he said. “Paying the 10 percent is a lot better than 100 percent.”

Taken out of the levy was $1,600 that was formerly allocated to the Southern Minnesota Tourism Association.

A reduction in state aid of more than $400,000 had a major impact on the levy increase, as well.

The board decided on Tuesday, however, that instead of shifting that $413,349 back to taxpayers, that amount will be absorbed back into the reserves.

The move alone resulted in lowering the increase of the 2011 tax levy to 5.6 percent over 2010.

The total of the levy increase for 2011 is $981,400, and total levy approved is $18,630,078.

The levy passed on a 3-1 vote, with Shoff, District 1 Commissioner Glen Mathiason and District 3 Commissioner Jim Nelson voting in favor.

District 2 Commissioner Dan Belshan voted against the levy increase, suggesting the use of revenues from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract be used to offset the levy, versus raising taxes.

Shoff pointed out that revenues from the ICE contract go to paying for expenditures in the jail.

The board then voted unanimously to set the proposed 2011 budget, with total revenues at $40,209,583 and total expenditures at $39,840,753.

While the total revenues and expenditures reflect the deduction of the $413,349, the breakdown of budget line items was not yet available at press time.

Salaries set for 2011

The Board of Commissioners voted to give $1,500 raises to all Freeborn County elected officials except themselves in 2011. Commissioners voted to freeze their own salaries at $24,250.

The following salaries were approved:

• County attorney: $94,000

• County auditor/treasurer: $79,000.

• County recorder: $55,500

• Sheriff: $75,000

The non-union employee salary adjustment was set at a 2 percent increase. The 2011 agreement with Department of Human Services group, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO Council 65, Local 1018A, will also receive a 2 percent wage increase in 2011.

In additional business, the board:

• Approved acceptance of $2,500 from Diamond Jo Casino for the 2011 Freeborn County Scholarship program.

• Passed a resolution approving an agreement with the University of Minnesota to provide Extension Service programs locally and employing Extension staff.

• Adopted a social host ordinance for Freeborn County.

• Approved the 2011 contract for morgue facilities and medical examiner support services with the following counties: Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Scott and Regina Medical Center.

• Set a public hearing for 8:45 a.m. Dec. 21 to take input on a proposed application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for additional funding to assist with tornado debris clean-up and new funding to assist with flood debris clean-up.

• Voted to approve Dr. Lindsey C. Thomas as medical examiner to two-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2011.