Budget includes proposed levy increase

While not as low as the 1.1 percent levy in 2021, the first draft of the county budget presented to the Lyon County Board on Tuesday carried a proposed levy increase of 1.4 percent for 2022.
The general revenue budget for 2022 would be $8,337,686 compared to $8,298,965 in 2021. The roads and bridges budget would increase from $2,216,000 in 2021 to $2,293,170 in 2022. The largest budget increase would be in the Southwest Health and Human Services levy from $3,466,850 in FY21 to $3,567,138 in FY22. However, this is the preliminary budget and changes are expected as department budgets are finalized for 2022. Preliminary levies can be lowered but not raised.
One such area in which the budget could change is the Marshall-Lyon County Library. Michele Leininger with the Marshall-Lyon County Library presented a 2022 draft budget asking for an 11.3 percent increase for 2022. The FY21 budget was $1,044,035; the 2022 proposed budget would be $1,161,662 — an increase of $117,627. One of the main increases would be bringing the adult services position from a 30-hour per week position to a 40-hour per week full time position with benefits. The increase wasn’t met with open arms by the board.
“I’m looking at the amount of money you’re asking us to give,” commissioner Charlie Sanow said. “That is beyond what I would suggest us giving. I wouldn’t support this.”
The library board did a zero-increase last year due to COVID.
“Just because we did a zero-increase last year doesn’t mean we have to play catch-up for everything this year,” commissioner Rick Anderson said. “I think this budget is a little out of line.”
The budget also addressed building maintenance and geothermal issues, a new cleaning contract and the newly-adopted, five-year technology replacement plan. Leininger will bring the board’s budget concerns back to the library board.
Leininger, Val Quist, Tracy librarian, and Gail Perrizo, Minneota librarian, presented projects done during 2020 and how the libraries are bouncing back in 2021. The Marshall-Lyon County Library installed a drive-up window to use during the pandemic. While the Cottonwood and Balaton libraries were closed for a year, a deep cleaning was done to each location and entire collections were swapped out in both buildings. They did deliver materials to 30-plus individuals and families, as well as continued modified daycare service. Balaton and Cottonwood residents were encouraged to use the Tracy and Minneota libraries, respectively.
The Tracy library also revamped its website in 2020 and saw a large increase in visits (3,500 in 2019 compared to more than 16,000 in 2020). Since reopening, the library system has seen a surge in branch usage and a continued interest in weekday hours. There has also been an increase in online options. Minneota has brought back many of its programs, including story hour, which has had very high attendance numbers. It has also begun a new reading series based on writers with Minneota ties.

In other board news:
• The board approved a bid for $35,045 from EATON UPS for the service life extension program on the jail’s back-up system.
• The board approved a conditional use permit for Mid-continent Communications to construct a 190-foot, self-supporting lattice broadband communication tower.
• The board approved declaring the old phone equipment surplus and allowing it to be placed for sale.
• The board approved the resolution to apply for the operational grant and authorize VSO Heidi Fier to execute the grant application.
• The board approved the acceptance of a $10 donation from Mallory Bigler to be placed in the DARE account.