NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners on Tuesday will consider establishing the proposed 2019 property tax levy of $13,357,696, representing a 2.25 percent increase over the total 2018 certified levy.

The board meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the courthouse commissioner’s room.

The increase is primarily due to the proposed $4,185,000 CSAH 29 project. The current budget includes two call-back items subject to further review by commissioners this fall: $24,000 for a sheriff’s department drone and $4,160 for commissioner laptop computers.

In addition, the current 2019 draft county budget includes $344,381 for contingency line items. General contingencies include out-of-home placement costs over budgeted expenses, high-profile prosecution and investigation cases, extraordinary expenses for civil commitment proceedings, preventative and acute health care for county jail inmates, state aid/grant reductions mid-year, realized in 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

In addition, County Program Aid (CPA) from the State of Minnesota decreased from 1,061,806 this year to $1,035,754 in 2019, a $26,052 reduction. According to the current 2019 county budget draft, there are reserve funds budgeted as revenue in order to lower the need for more property tax revenue.

Each 1 percent levy increase or decrease from the 2018 levy equals $130,638. Either more reserves would need to be used as funding or more expenditure reductions would be needed if commissioners set the proposed levy lower than the proposed 2.25 percent increase.

The draft 2019 county budget is $37,447.936. Last year and for 2017, commissioners approved a 3.25 percent levy hike. For 2016, the increase was 3.5 percent, 4 percent for 2015 and no increase for 2014.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A Joint Powers Agreement between the State of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (MnBCA) and Brown County on behalf of the sheriff’s office for reporting crime statistics in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) format.

• The resignation of Planning & Zoning/Water Plan/Wetlands Administrator John Knisley, effective Sept. 17 and authorizing posting the vacant position according to policy.

• A resolution regarding review of the proposed land acquisition of 80 acres in Section 36, Leavenworth Township by the State of Minnesota for inclusion in the Verona State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for water, wildlife conservation and public access purposes.

• Authorizing posting for a community-based coordinator position in convergence with law enforcement effective October 2018.

On June 26, commissioners approved a the position to work with Brown County law enforcement to provide early intervention and diversion from incarceration in the draft 2019 county budget with an estimated 20 percent time study reimbursement, subject to final budget approval.

The employee would be a qualified, adult mental health social worker working with law enforcement. The Human Services budget has available funds from a regional initiative to hire a candidate for the rest of the year.

Twenty to 30 percent of 2019 funding will come from county social work jobs. The rest is being lobbied for by Blue Earth County to cover their two like positions. Funding passed the 2018 legislature but was vetoed by the governor. It will return to the legislature next year. The cost is also in the 2019 Brown County Human Services budget.

fbusch@nujournal.com