WILLMAR -- A line-by-line review of a preliminary 2009 Kandiyohi County budget includes minimal increases, some decreases and quite a few status quos for everything from the sheriff's department to county parks.
But even with efforts to keep a conservative budget, the county's levy would increase 9.8 percent next year under the scenario presented Monday to the County Board of Commissioners.
The board's response was to cut more.
"We need to look at different organizations to cut down on our expenses," said Chairman Richard Larson. "It's a cruel world. We have to recognize that."
"I don't think there are any sacred cows," said Commissioner Richard Falk.
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Falk suggested that money be trimmed from every department, except the Willmar Area Food Shelf. Even though the end result would have only a slight effect on the total budget and levy, Falk said the action should be taken. "It's the principle to me," he said.
The county will have to "go beyond principle" and cut staff in order to make a real difference, said Commissioner Harlan Madsen.
But layoffs usually involve the newest, and least paid, employee, said County Administrator Larry Kleindl. And with six months of unemployment payments, the financial benefit of reducing staff is not immediate.
Cutting staff can also mean fewer services, which could have a ripple effect on the public and require them to receive even more services from another department.
"We can't cut ourselves too thin," Larson said.
Last year the levy increased 4 percent and the public didn't "compliment" the commissioners for "doing a good job," said Falk. They certainly won't be happy if the county levy increases 9.8 percent, said Falk, who wants to keep the levy increase to 5 percent.
That 5 percent figure made Kleindl gulp.
With some areas falling under the new 3.9 percent state levy limit and the state and federal government pushing more program costs and shifting "fees" onto counties, keeping a tight budget will be tough. Added to that are the increased costs of utilities and fuel, which were a significant part of the budgeted cost increases in most departments.
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It's a challenge all Minnesota counties are facing. "This is not unique to Kandiyohi County," said Kleindl.
After reviewing the numbers for 3½ hours, the commissioners told Kleindl to consider additional options overnight and come back with recommendations for further reductions.
They'll meet again at 8:30 a.m. today in the administrator's office to take a second look.
"My job is to find solutions and that's what I'll do," said Kleindl, who was left with a pile of documents and a real puzzle to sort out.
Because of the complicated procedure for determining which costs fall under the levy limits and which don't -- which the state can either reject or approve -- figuring out the budget and levy has been a "moving target," Kleindl said.
State rejection could mean commissioners would have to revise the budget later this fall, which is not normal procedure for the county. Usually what they certify in the preliminary budget in September is what's given final approval in December.
Kleindl begged the commissioners to allow enough room in the preliminary budget for potential cuts the state could require later.
Once a levy is certified, the budget can only be cut but not increased.
