NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners are scheduled to adopt the 2013 Brown County budget and levy today.
The proposed $30,885, 961 budget and $11,384,513 levy is 1.86 percent above the 2012 certified levy. The final 2013 levy must be certified by Dec. 28.
The 1.86 percent hike is a $107,343 levy increase and provides for $118,729 in contingency funds. The Highway Department road construction budget is increased by $3,280,000, which is related to the pending State Highway 258 Turn Back Project.
Commissioners will also consider:
A Judicial Ditch 35 R&B clean-out repair request. The Judicial Ditch Board met on Dec. 11 and rejected all quotes because they were greater than the $14,000 cost estimate limit. The board solicited new quotes consistent with the previous authorization. New quotes are $12,680 from Schmidt Construction and $13,550 from Rosburg Construction.
Establish 2013 commissioner salary and per diem rates. Salaries in 2012 were $21,250 plus $500 for board chair and $60 per diem. Commissioner salary and per diem rates were unchanged from 2008 through 2011. Area county commissioner salaries in 2012 ranged from $18,850 in Watonwan County to $30,009 in Blue Earth County.
Consider setting 2013 elected official salaries for Sheriff Rich Hoffmann, whose current salary is $84,000, Auditor-Treasurer Marlin Helget, whose current salary is $79,611 and Recorder Betti Kamolz, whose current salary is $63,250.
Consider setting the 2013 salaries of Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson, whose current salary is $94,027, Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens, whose current salary is $97,612 and Administrator Chuck Enter, whose current salary is $99,226.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. today in the courthouse commissioners room.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).