The Sherburne County Board Tuesday adopted the final 2016 tax levy in the amount of $42,915,694, which represents a 1.4% increase over the 2015 levy of $42,323,421.

 

The final levy is slightly lower that the preliminary levy of $42,978,238 set in September.

 

Of that total, $20,954,937 is designated for the general fund. The other significant funds include public works ($10,585,130) Health & Human Services (HHS) ($6,701,9860) and debt service ($2,888,340).

 

The overall 2016 budget of $79,768,425 is 5% higher than the 2015 budget of $76,279,861.

 

The budget also includes non-levy revenues  totalling $36,852,731, which includes $12,337,279 for HHS and $9,106,876 for public works in state and federal funds. Another $4.05 million is expected in outside revenues for law enforcement and community corrections.

 

The board also approved the Regional Rail Authority Levy in the amount of $1,622,833 which is a 1.6% reduction from the 2015 levy. The drop is primarily due to lower debt service.

 

With the new levy, the county tax rate is expected to fall from 51.979% to about 50.3%.  County staff estimates the tax impact on an average home would be an increase of about $3 per month or $35 a year.

 

The board approved a contract with Tri County Action Program (Tri-CAP) for transit services, with Sherburne County contributing 5% of operating costs ($26,325) in 2016 and in subsequent years of operation in the county.

 

The county switched from RiverRider to Tri-CAP bus services in 2014.

 

The board approved property tax abatements for Jesse & Laura Moore of Clear Lake ($695.28) and Laura & Michael Ylinen of Big Lake ($297.67) because of fires that damaged their properties in 2015.

 

The board approved an agreement with the University of Minnesota Extension Office to provide  Extension programs in the county from 2016-2018.

 

Under the agreement, the 4-H Program Coordinator will be paid $55,105 in 2016, $56,345 in 2017 and $57,754 in 2018.

 

The board increased the bounty for beaver removal from $35 to $50 during trapping season and from $35 to $65 during non-trapping season to encourage more trapping.

 

Ditch Inspector Mike Lindenau said since with the bounty so low and the fur market so volatile, it was no longer feasible for trappers to justify their time invested in trapping operations. He said trappers estimated they were making about $5 per hour.

 

The county spends thousands of dollars each year removing beaver dams from county ditches.

 

In other action the board:

 

• Set the daily meal expense reimbursement rate at $30 for in-state and $35 for out-of-state travel;

 

•Approved mileage reimbursement for 2016 at the same rate allowed by the IRS.