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The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an 8.92% increase in the preliminary levy for 2025, along with a preliminary budget.

The preliminary levy was approved on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Chris Shoff and Brad Edwin voting against.

Commissioners have until the end of the year to approve the final budget, at which time they can approve a lower levy increase, but not a higher one.

Shoff said during his time as commissioner he didn’t remember going much over a 5% increase and asked if they could split the difference with a 7% increase.

Freeborn County Administrator Ryan Rasmusson said there is every intention between now and December to get the levy increase down.

The total preliminary levy was approved at $29.87 million, with $17.84 million of that going toward the general fund. The projected tax impact was not immediately available.

Edwin said his concerns were over the “numerous” new positions included in the budget, which included both full-time positions and some part-time positions, of which he said had never been approved by the board and were added to different departments.

“Yet we’re told a lot of what’s happening to this year’s budget and levy is because of wages and benefits,” Edwin said.

Finance Manager Pat Paquin said some of the increases had already been approved by the board, including one change with the Sheriff’s Office. He reminded the commissioners that they will have time to discuss the positions up until the end of their final budget.

Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom said she thought it would be prudent to add an additional workshop Oct. 1 to focus more on the budget, so the board could discuss and gain a greater understanding of what things in the budget the board had already committed themselves to.

She said it has been concerning to her when the board is asked to approve things in the middle of the year on how it will affect the budget not only for that year but in the future as well.

The board ultimately approved the preliminary budget at $73.49 million in expenditures.

In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Rasmussen, whose last day will be Oct. 9.

Rasmusson thanked the board for the opportunity to serve in the position and said he had learned a lot about the position and himself in the role. He said he was committed to ensuring a smooth transition.

Edwin thanked Rasmusson for his service to the county and for his work with the board and wished him the best in his future endeavors.

Erin Hornberger with Human Resources for the county, said she had reached out to a few different counties and gotten their feedback on search firms they have used in the past, noting that most had used DDA Human Resources Inc. or South Central Service Cooperative.

She said she had received four firms and she will get quotes from them on their prices for a search for the next meeting.

Shoff said he would reach out to Jan Fransen, who worked as an interim administrator for a time for the county, to see if she is available, and Hornberger will also reach out to the Association of Minnesota Counties about other options for interim candidates.