County tax

meeting

Thursday

2.6 percent increase

in levy proposed

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM --Brown County's 2000 proposed budget will be presented at the Truth-in-Taxation public hearing scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the District Courtroom in the Brown County Courthouse.

Budget documents are available to the public upon request, and the assessor's office will be staffed from 7-9 p.m. in room 209 (second level of courthouse) Thursday to answer questions on such things as property values and classifications.

The total revenues for the proposed 2000 budget are $19,227,914, which has increased from last year's budget of $18,435,587.

The total expenditures for 2000 are $19,227,914, a 4.3 percent increase.

The county taxpayer (certified levy) for 2000 is $6,659,725, which is a 2.6 percent increase from last year's levy of $6,493,153.

There was a 3.4 percent decrease in this year's property tax aids, which total $1,454,211 as compared to last year's $1,505,029. The property tax aids are such things as homestead ag credit aid (HACA), criminal justice aid, disparity reduction aid, family preservation aid, local performance aid, and PERA aid. The most significant change in this aid came in the family preservation aid revenue which showed a 1,326.7 percent increase at $49,063 compared $3,439 in 199.

Because the Legislature wanted to provide Minnesota counties with property tax relief, it designated $20 million to be used by the counties in the family preservation area.

"It's really not new money for the county," said Family Services Director Tom Henderson, "It's replacing money (replacing property tax aid)."

The State of Minnesota is trying to ascend the property tax aids so the county can lower its property tax reliance. The gross levy including all property tax aids shows a 1.4 percent increase over last year's budget to make the gross levy $8,113,936 for 2000.

The mobile home property tax shows a 42.6 percent increase from $15,000 to $21,390.This figure was the estimate made by the auditor/treasurer's office in July, according to County Administrator, Charles Enter

The license and permits portion of the budget,which includes the auditor/treasurer's office and building permits showed a decrease of 0.2 percent to $24,025 for this year's budget.

The county will get an 7.9 percent increase in state and federal aid in 2000. State and federal aid include, the revenue fund, road and bridge, family services, and public health. The total revenue for state and federal aid totals $8,345,883.

The inter-government revenue such as road and bridge, family services and public health school contracts and the City of New Ulm Debt Service, showed a 5.5 percent increase for a total amount of $290,419 for this year's budget.

The total revenue on charges for services in 2000, which includes the county facilities such as court administrator, information services, assessor, auditor/treasurer, county attorney, and other services, totaled $2,055,960, a 5.3 percent decrease from 1999.

For county expenditures, there is a 0.9 percent decrease for 2000 for general government expenditures at $3,489,767. Due to the election year in 2000, there is a 1,778.3 percent increase for the elections portion of the 2000 budget for an amount of $21,600.

The expenditures in the public safety portion of the 2000 budget show a 5.6 percent increase for an amount of $2,936,843. The greatest change was in the coroner's department with an increase of 25 percent.

"This is a tough one to estimate," said Enter, "It's based on the activity year to year. If it's not needed, it's not spent."

There was a 4.4 percent decrease in culture and recreation expenditures for 2000 with the greatest reduction in economic development and culture and tourism. This decrease is due to fewer funds requested by Southern Minnesota Tourism Association which does not need as much money for training and personnel, according to Enter.

The expenditures in the road and bridge department showed an increase of 13.8 percent to an amount of $4,216,098. The expenditures in the human services for 2000 show an increase from last year of 7.6 percent for an amount of $6,597,911.

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