GRANITE FALLS — The Yellow Medicine County Board selected one of four primary levy scenarios presented by Finance Manager Michelle May on Tuesday and modified it by setting the maximum primary levy increase for 2018 at 0.75 percent.

The reason for the modification in the projected increase was the board had just approved the addition of a permanent part-time tech person to assist Information Technology Coordinator Dennis Pederson at a salary of $17,500 per year. The new position would be only 19 hours per week with no benefits.

One topic of lengthy discussion regarding the percent of increase was whether or not the each of the four scenarios presented carried with it the use of reserves or the commitment to reserves.

Commissioner John Berends said that every year in the past, the board had accommodated for covering their projected expenses with the levy.

Board chair Gary Johnson added that any year they had “flatlined” the levy with no increase, they had had to dip heavily into reserves because some unexpected expense inevitably came up. It was never a good idea not to account for the cost of living increases such as health insurance.

Additionally, Berends said, if the board “really wanted to attack expenses,” they would have to consider personnel, and unions and other expenses that come with people.

We have to look at reorganizing, he said. When people retire or resign, look at dispersing their duties to others in the department instead of replacing them.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not saying you’re not doing your jobs,” Berends said. “I’m just saying that’s the area to consider.”

“You’re right, John,” County Administrator Peg Heglund said. “It’s hard to do, but we do evaluate every position before we hire another person.”

Human Resources Coordinator Ashley Soine also agreed.

“You’re right,” Soine said. “If we can make our jobs more efficient, then we wouldn’t have to hire more people. That’s what we’re looking at (information flow) to save time.”

The board discussed setting a higher limit on the increase, such as 1.2 percent because it could always lower it in December for the final levy setting, but it may not raise it.

“In all my years on the board, we have never lowered it,” Johnson said.

The 0.75 percent increase amounts to about $775,718.10 (based on 2017 final levy of $10,342,908), which is subject to change by the end of this year. The scenario selected would use reserves for general fund capital assets ($179,800) with restricted/committed reserves of $141,812, May’s report said.