Initial new county budget set at 2.2 percent
The annual proposed 2020 budget/levy for Lyon County is at 2.2 percent, showing an increase of $328,936 from 2019 to 2020. County Administrator Loren Stomberg said the budget in 2019 was $14,751,251 and the 2020 budget is currently at $15,080,187.
The board is required to propose a levy the end of September to be used for the Truth-in-Taxation notices that will go out in November.
The proposed levy adopted by the county board may be modified downward but not upward before setting the final levy and adopting the final budget.
“The increases are in general services. There are no requests for additional staff,” said Stomberg. “I’d like to look at the individual department budgets again,” said Commissioner Rick Anderson. The board decided to wait until the second meeting in September to set the final budget/levy.
IN OTHER action the board:
•Approved hiring Quinn Bullard as a jail sergeant at the Lyon County Enforcement Center.
•Held a public hearing and approved the issuance of conduit revenue funds to allow the United Community Action Partnership, Inc. to build a new facility. These types of bonds are issued for the benefit of private groups. In this case the funds will help build a new Head Start/Early Head Start facility in Marshall, said United Community Action Director Nancy Straw.
The principal amount will not exceed $2 million. The facility will be located on Saratoga Street. “The county has no future obligation on these funds,” said Auditor/Treasurer E. J. Moberg. The county board had this item on the agenda two previous times and were waiting for the public hearing before taking action to approved the revenue funds. There were no comments at the public hearing. “I think this is a win-win for the community and for head start,” said County Commissioner Paul Graupmann.
•Approved an archery deer hunt at Garvin Park to begin Sept. 14. Statewide, archery season continues through Dec. 31. Last year about 190 hunters used Garvin Park.
•Approved a Tax Abatement for new construction of single and multi-family homes at 305 Brussels Ct. and 307 Brussels Ct. in Marshall. A public hearing was held without public comment. The abatements were for JM Development of Marshall. The abatement of the county portion of property taxes will be 80 percent the first year; 60 percent in year two; 40 percent in year three and 20 percent in year court. The abatement periled will begin two taxes payable years following the year of application for not more than two years following approval of the county resolution. It will continue through four years.
•Approved funding for the Patzer-Snodgrass Stream bank Stabilization project on the Redwood River between Lynd and Marshall. They will be using Buffer Enforcement Funds to cost share 75 percent of the actual project cost not to exceed $30,000. Approximately 60 feet of stream bank along a 300-foot stretch has eroded. Residential structures are in jeopardy without the project. Total cost of the project is estimated at $40,000.