Increase slightly under proposal 

Freeborn County commissioners on Tuesday approved a 3.4 percent increase in the 2015 tax levy.

The increase, down half a percent point from the preliminary levy approved in September, equates to a $4 increase on a $100,000 residential homestead, $17 on a $200,000 commercial business and about $2 for an average acre of tillable agriculture land. The estimates assume no change in property value from the prior year.

County Administrator John Kluever said 2.1 percent of the overall tax levy increase will cover the bond payments for road construction completed this past summer, along with the cost of a new storage facility at the county highway shop. The remaining 1.3 percent will go to support operational costs, including changes in health insurance regulations.

The $20.4 million levy and $44.7 million budget were approved unanimously.

The approved county expenses include $8,400 toward reopening the Albert Lea Public Library on Fridays. This is one-third of the cost of the Friday hours. The city is paying the other two-thirds.The county already pays about $262,000 — or one-third — of the total library cost.

Kluever said the levy was reduced after taking into consideration the revenue and expenditures for the entire year.

In other action, the commissioners:

• Approved a two-year, 2.25 percent cost-of-living pay increase for Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies.

• Changed the county’s mileage reimbursement rate to follow the federal reimbursement rate.

Previously, county employees could be paid either 20 cents a mile or 41 cents a mile, depending on if a county vehicle was available for use while they attended a meeting for work and whether they chose to drive their own vehicle, Kluever said.

Under the new policy, county vehicles will eventually be phased out and for the most part, employees will drive their own vehicles.

• Changed the county’s meal reimbursement rate to follow the state’s rate.

Previously the county’s rate was $6 for breakfast, $8.50 for lunch and $14.50 for dinner. The state’s rate is $9 for breakfast, $11 for lunch and $16 for dinner.

Kluever said the county’s rates were last changed in 1992 and were out of date.

• Approved a two-year agreement with the ditch viewers to use office space at the courthouse.

• Approved final payments for the construction projects completed this year.

• Created a public health fund that is separate from the general fund.

Kluever said there will be about $1.8 million in the fund in 2015. Projected expenses are $1.2 million. He noted the Public Health Department is a fairly large budget and receives a lot of federal and state money.

• Set Jan. 6 as the first meeting for 2015 and Jan. 13 as a workshop.

• Approved a letter of support to the Minnesota Department of Transportation in support of inter-city regional passenger rail service from south central Minnesota to the Twin Cities.