Karen Newman

Clay County Administrator Stephen Larson presented the final 2021 budget and levy for approval at the December 22 meeting of the Clay County Commission.

 The final 2021budget is $110,447,500.  Larson hastened to assure the commission and the public that a significant portion of those budget dollars are provided by the state of Minnesota with the county acting as the arm of the state in passing through state and federal dollars for local use.  The Clay County-funded portion of the budget is $36,685,718 representing a net levy of 3.49, down from the previously projected levy of 4.99.

 Laron reminded the board that the budgeting process began in June when department heads presented their 2021 budget proposals to them over a series of board meetings. He said,” On September 22, the preliminary budget of 4.99 [levy] was adopted by this board.  Over the next couple of months, we continued to look at that. A number of minor adjustments were made. On November 24, as a budget update for the Truth and Taxation, the motion was made to utilize additional revenue funds to lower the net levy from 4.99 to 3.49.”

 Larson explained why the county board felt it was possible to lower the net levy. “While this board has certainly been cautious about utilizing reserve funds or one-time payments to offset the levy, it was felt we could do this.”

Larson cited the reasons the county board felt comfortable utilizing reserve funds.

· Higher returns on investments than expected

· Higher than expected revenues over expenditures in 2019

· Participated in a fourth quarter hiring freeze

· CARES Act funding permitted the county to be reimbursed for additional personnel hired in Public Health due to the Covid-19 pandemic

· The administrator thanked a citizen who appeared before the board at the Truth in Taxation meeting.  He said that the board is diligent about responding to citizen concerns. The hardships represented to those who depend on Social Security payments for their living is the reason commissioners strive to provide citizens ‘the most bang for their buck’.

 In additional business, the board voted to name the building located at 3510 12th Avenue South, which was purchased with CARES Act dollars, ‘The Clay County Government Center’. Boulevard and building signage will be installed, specifying which departments are projected to move to the new location by March, 2021. The existing courthouse will be used for court and justice purposes.