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Pine County Board Approves Budget Levy for 2010

by Jeanne Larson

At its December 15 meeting in Sandstone, the Pine County Board of Commissioners approved the final version of its 2010 budget. The tax levy for the coming year was set at $14,289,330, which is exactly the same as the levy for 2009. There is zero increase in the tax levy for 2010.

Although there were some slight changes in how the county funds were distributed, most of the big budget items remained the same. Commissioner Stephen Hallan commented that the county doesn’t have much chance of increasing its revenue in this economy.

Salaries for elected officials for 2010 were set as follows: County Treasurer, $55,702; County Auditor, $70,762; County Sheriff/ Emergency Management Director, $81,653; County Attorney, $92,893.

There was some discussion before setting a mileage rate for staff as well as county commissioners for the coming year. Some felt that setting the mileage rate below the federal standard would be a wise move because if the federal rate goes lower during the year, employees would have to pay income taxes on the difference. Some felt that letting the rate fluctuate according to the federal rate changes would be complicated and make too much work for the auditor.

In discussion it was pointed out that there was only one change in the federal mileage rate this past year, and that computers could easily figure the changes if necessary. Setting a rate of 50 cents per mile was discussed, but Hallan argued for a straight federal rate, citing possible problems with fluctuating gas prices throughout the year. He made a motion to that effect and it passed by a vote of 4-1 with Commissioner Doug Carlson voting nay.

Commissioners salaries for 2010 were set at $21,208; per diem rate per meeting at $75; and mileage rate at the federal rate, not to exceed 50.5 cents per mile.

In another budget related matter, the board approved an increase in jail booking fees from $10 to $20 effective January 1, 2010. These fees are paid by the person being booked. Commissioner Ed Montbriand wondered what is done if the person being booked cannot pay the fees, but no one seemed to know the answer to that question. Commissioner Carlson asked where the money from booking fees goes, and was told that it goes somewhere into the jail operation.

In another matter, the board heard from Lezlie Sauter from Lakes and Pines, Project manager of the Small Cities Development Program. At a previous meeting the board had heard from Sauter concerning a grant application for six small communities in the northern part of the county including Sturgeon Lake, Willow River and Finlayson, to improve personal properties with such things as winterizing and remodeling. Applications for such projects would be based on income, and in the case of rental property, on the income of the tenant. There would be strict rules for the use of such funding, and any time the property would be sold before the terms of the agreement were reached, the money would be paid back to the county.

Pine County already has about $100,000 left from money recovered from property sold under a similar previous program, and that money cannot be used in the general fund. The board had discussed the grant application with Sauter at an earlier meeting and had agreed to include some areas in Pogegama Township and the rest of the county in the grant application. She informed the board that a newly hired person from the State who now works with this program did not approve of the inclusion of the rest of the county in this grant, and, in fact, had some rather unrealistic ideas of how the project should be handled. Nevertheless, she advised the board to go along with State officials and make the grant application only for the six northern communities previously agreed upon.

The motion was made to apply for the $800,000 grant, using the $100,000 from the earlier project as matching funds. Sauter felt that the county could come back after the first 15 months of the project and ask for more funding for the rest of the county. There are 47 townships in Pine County.

The board held a lengthy discussion concerning the county contract with the city of Hinckley for extra police protection from the Sheriff’s Department. Hinckley had complained that the city was not receiving daily logs of the extra time covered by the Sheriff’s Department in a timely manner. The city was also unhappy because the deputy doing duty in the city lived about 45 minutes away, and since his time was figured from the time he left his home, Hinckley could not possibly be covered for 10 hours per day under this arrangement.

In discussion, it was revealed that daily logs were sent to Hinckley as requested, but the city’s FAX machine was not working. This problem was not discovered until December. Also, in the coming year, two deputies, neither living more than 15 minutes drive away from the town, have put in a bid for the contract. It was determined that Commissioner Steve Chaffee, County Coordinator Mark LeBrun, Sheriff Mansavage, the city administrator and the mayor of Hinckley should get together and discuss the matter.

The cities of Pine City and Sandstone, and the township of Windemere all have similar contracts with the county for extra policing. The county is now providing about 50% of the costs of these contracts, and the board would like to see it closer to 100%.

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