Members of the Lyon County Board of Commissioners couldn’t find a way to avoid a double-digit increase in the 2027 levy, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Knowing this would be a tough budget to deal with, commissioners this year began budget talks way back in April. In August, there was talk of a levy increase topping 15%. In the end — or close to the end — the board on Tuesday approved an 11.9% preliminary levy increase, from $18,574,600 in 2026 to $20,792,761 for taxes payable in 2027.
“I hesitate to recommend a double-digit increase because it goes against everything I’’ve worked for for the last 20-some years,” Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg said. “But I don’t see any other avenue out of this. The numbers, I can’t make them work and still keep the financial health of the County going.”
The levy can be reduced but not raised before it is certified in December. The Truth in Taxation public meeting is set for Dec. 1, and the levy will be finalized later that month.
Last year’s levy increase was 9.9% and used $850,000 in reserves. The County will levy $650,000 to lower its debt service to pay bonds for the 2016 courthouse addition.
“In my 10 years as a commissioner I don’t remember ever spending this much time and effort to work on our levy,” Commissioner Gary Crowley said. “We looked at every avenue. I don’t like the double-digit figure, but we did our best.” Commissioner Rick Anderson made the motion to set the levy increase, and it was seconded by Crowley.
The main factors that caused the doubledigit increase are Health and Human Services and health insurance for the County, which has increased dramatically the last year, Stomberg said.
“Inflation, some cuts in County program costs, about a 20% increase in our work comp. costs — those are all factored into this as well,” said Stomberg.
The levy proposed includes a $200,000 “buffer” for unforeseen things that could come up between now and December.
Commissioner Paul Graupmann said for the 15 years prior to last year’s 9.9% increase, the County’s average levy increase was about 2%.
“It just kind of goes to show that’s what our goal has been, keeping it low,” he said. “Southwest Health and Human Services, they don’t make a wish list … they’re obligated by the State just like we are. It’s very unfortunate that it’s headed in this direction, but that’s the hand that we’ve been dealt at this point.”
The County budget includes cuts in various allocations. Libraries in Tracy and Minneota will see a 50% cut under the current budget proposal; the appropriation to the Marshall Lyon County Library system is lower as well.
Other proposed allocation cuts include those to the Historical Society, Marshall Area Fine Arts, the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center and A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota, although that organization is supported by grant dollars. Budget numbers are still negotiable.
