MARSHALL — The preliminary 2024 levy that Lyon County Commissioners approved this week was higher than an earlier proposal. However, commissioners said the preliminary 1.7% levy increase could still possibly be reduced before a final levy is set.

Commissioners discussed an updated budget and levy proposal at Tuesday’s county board meeting. In August, the commissioners discussed a proposal that would have included a levy increase of 0.9% from 2023. On Tuesday, County Administrator Loren Stomberg said there had been some changes to the budget proposal, which led to a higher net levy increase.

There were a few different factors that affected the new budget and levy proposal, Stomberg said. Some of those factors included changes in insurance costs, as well as budget adjustments to include positions like a crime victim services coordinator, and increased funding for the county highway department. Other budget adjustments would allow the county to make two Lyon County Museum employees county employees, and support the expansion of a U of M Extension educator position in Lyon County.

The changes resulted in a total net levy of about $16.3 million. That would be an increase of $265,597, or 1.7%, from the 2023 levy, Stomberg said.

In spite of the increase, commissioners said they were still willing to accept the preliminary levy and budget proposal. Commissioner Rick Anderson said he felt they would be able to get the increase down to 1% or less by the end of the budget process.

“I feel very comfortable with this,” said Commissioner Gary Crowley.

Commissioners voted to approve the preliminary budget and levy.

The county must set a final levy and budget by the end of the year. The final levy can be lower, but not higher, than the preliminary levy.

County acts on new aid money

In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, county commissioners discussed what to do with about $22,000 in new state aid money geared toward preventing youth homelessness.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Local Homeless Prevention Aid program will be distributing a total of $17.6 million a year to counties and $2.4 million a year to tribes, up through the 2029 fiscal year. Stomberg said Lyon County received about $22,000 in new aid money this year.

According to the DOR, the aid money must be used to fund homeless prevention projects that target families with children, or unaccompanied youth. However, Stomberg said Lyon County might not be able to make its aid funds stretch very far.

“Alone, I’m not sure what the county can do with it,” he said. Stomberg suggested transferring the aid funds to a local organization that already works to help shelter people, like United Community Action Partnership.

Commissioners voted to have Southwest Health and Human Services transfer the $22,000 in aid money to UCAP.