In its final meeting of 2024 Tuesday, the Sherburne County Board adopted the 2025 tax levy in the amount of $62,765,982. That represents a 3.99% increase from the 2024 levy of $60,355,133.

The 2025 budget is set at $184,288,714, also up 3.99% from the 2024 budget.

Administrator Bruce Messelt said county staff worked diligently over the past several months to come up with a budget and levy that would have the least impact on taxpayers, yet still provide for growth.

Due mainly to the Sherco Coal Generation Plant Unit 2 decommissioning, the countywide tax base decreased approximately 0.4% for taxes payable in 2025.

He said he latest data indicates 2023 population growth of 1.66%, which is the third highest in the State. Countywide there were 275 new homes constructed in 2023. The county also saw approximately $168 million of new construction projects added to the tax rolls for taxes payable in 2025.

This budget and levy takes into consideration the significant growth the county is experiencing. The impact of the increase would be roughly $2.50 per month on the average residential homesteaded property in Sherburne County.

2025 Salaries

The board voted to give the four county elected officials a six percent salary increase for 2025. Messelt said that is an amount generally consistent with the cost of living and average annual performance adjustments county department heads received in 2023 and 2024.

He said historical average increases for the county’s elected officials when compared to the average county employee, plus recent external comparisons outside the county support the requested increase. And, elected officials do not accrue the same full complement of benefits other appointed department heads and county employees receive. For the 2025, the salaries are:  Sheriff $202,386.74; County Attorney $202,091.14; Auditor-Treasurer $143,907.30; Recorder $133,031.23.

The commissioners also set their own salaries for 2025 at $59,112, a 2.5% increase over their current salary of $57,670. That increase matches the 2025 Sherburne County employee cost of living increase.

Rebate Financing

The board approved the payment of 2024 tax rebate financing for the following properties:

Sandhill Holdings; S&B LLC; GATR of Sauk Rapids, Inc - RAN Properties LLC; Morrell Oversize, Inc - Scott Morrell LLC; Patrick Industries, Inc; Apex Embroidery Design, Inc. & SBH Properties, LLC; Ice Man Properties LLC; Zablocki Roofing Inc & OZ Properties.

The parties have paid their 2024 property taxes in full and will be receiving a tax rebate on the county portion of their taxes in accordance with the taxes paid and their individual agreements on file.

SCORE Funding

The board approved the following Recycling Day event funding for 2025 using SCORE funds: Baldwin City $8,900; Becker City $4,500; Becker Twp. $3,900; Big Lake City $11,800; Big Lake Twp. $18,700; Blue Hill Twp. $6,400; Clear Lake City $500; Clear Lake Twp. $3,000; Elk River City $11,400; Haven Twp. $3,400; Livonia Twp. $6,300; Orrock Twp. $8,000; Palmer Twp. $10,000; Santiago Twp. $3,100.

Other Business

In other actions the board:

• Approved the reappointment of Steve Demeules and appointment of Boaz Erickson to the Sherburne County Board of Adjustment for a three-year term, from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027;

• Approved the appointment of Jeff Anderson as Santiago Twp. Representative on the Sherburne County Planning Advisory Commission for the term of Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027;

• Approved the appointment of Donella Petro as a Dist.  5 Representative #1 and Donna Stoderl as a Dist. 5 Representative #2 to the Sherburne County Extension Committee;

• Approved the turnback of Co. Rd. 53 from Co. Rd. 8 to the Mississippi River to the City of Becker because it no loger functions as a county road. The board also approved the turnback of Co. Rd. 24 from Hwy. 10 to Co. Rd. 23 to Becker for the same reason;

• Approved a contract between Sherburne County and YMCA for Drop-in Child Care Services for 2025 at a cost of $65,000. The YMCA will continue to provide on-site child care when their parents/caregivers are meeting with Health & Human Services staff. The contract will be paid utilizing MFIP Consolidated Funds;

• Approved the final contract payment of $58,405.01 to Knife River for the 2022 Co. Rd. 20 reconstruction;

• Approved the final contract payment of $27,572.19 to Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC for 2024 pavement markings.