There are many layers to the Lyon County budget onion, and this week, commissioners — facing the prospect of a double-digit levy increase for 2027 — focused on peeling away one of them.
The board on Tuesday held a lengthy discussion about future allocations as they relate to the budget, specifically to the Marshall-Lyon County Library.
No vote was taken Tuesday on what the County will appropriate to the library system — what it can afford to fit into its 2027 budget. Instead, commissioners took a step in the negotiation process and will bring their thoughts to the library board at a later date.
When it comes to numbers, the library is requesting $440,288 for 2027, which is above the number in the current MOE contract it has with the County. Board members, tasked with keeping the proposed levy at the lowest number possible, are focused on a starting point — some common ground between the library’s request and the current MOE contract, which sits at $238,482.
The MLCL is the head of the local public library system and is headquartered in Marshall with branches in Balaton and Cottonwood. It is also part of the Plum Creek Library System that includes Tracy and Minneota.
The reason the board chose Tuesday to focus its budget discussion on the MLCL first is because it represents the highest estimated allocation from the County.
“We’ve got a contract that was established in 1943; it was updated in 2014,” Board Chair and budget committee member Todd Draper said. “We have a minimum of maintenance that we have to pay. The minimum — the MOE — is 20 hours for Cottonwood and 20 hours for Balaton.”
Draper, along with Commissioner Rick Anderson and County Administrator Loren Stomberg has already met with the City of Marshall to discuss the current MOE. Draper said he would like to have another meeting to talk about different financial scenarios the County might have.
“I don’t want to wait until the last minute,” Draper said. “We have a good relationship — this is a negotiation. This is just the top allocation; there are other ones on our list. Once we get this decided, we can move down our list and we’ll know where we’re going with our budget.”
Draper said the MLCL intimated that if the County just does the MOE as it sits now, hours and staff cuts are possible.
“They threw out that something would maybe happen with the two other libraries in Cottonwood and Balaton — the agreement says that they can do no less than 20 hours a week,” said Draper.
Anderson noted that the MLCL is aware that the board will be looking at everything from financing the current MOE to no increase at all.
“It would be better for us, I think, that you (Draper), I and Loren sit down and say, ‘This is the dollar amount we want to do,’ then take it back (to the MLCL),” said Anderson.
The County appropriated $412,223 to the MLCL in 2026 compared to $394,544 in 2025.
Commissioner Tom Andries said given the fact that there are few other cost-saving steps the County can take to keep the levy down, he would be fine with just paying the MOE. Anderson added that the County should give consideration to going a bit above the MOE agreement to $357,723 (150% over the MOE); Commissioer Paul Graupmann agreed to that number, and Commissioner Gary Crowley favored going up to $338,482.
“This is just what the committee is going to go back to (the MLCL),” said Draper. “This committee will go to the library and the City and say, ‘This is what we are thinking.’ It’s negotiations — it’s not set in stone. The County has no intent on breaking the existing contract and does not intend to close down any services in our existing libraries.”
Commissioner Paul Graupman agreed with Anderson, but added that even if the County pinches some pennies with the MLCL, it still likely won’t realize a desirable levy.
