Hennepin County increases levy; Ramsey County holds steady

Hennepin County approved an overall increase of 2.1 percent for next year's county property tax levy Tuesday, while Ramsey County held steady for the second year in a row.

But much of the Hennepin County Board's attention was directed at Sheriff Rich Stanek's budget, which commissioners pledged to rein in largely because of concerns about overtime pay that came in at $5 million for 2014, double the projected amount.

In a unanimous vote, the board agreed to hire a consultant to look into the sheriff's staffing and organizational structure — what Commissioner Jan Callison called "outside expertise."

The board also decreased the sheriff's authorized full-time staff level by 30 positions to 778, to establish the discussion "around a real number," Callison said. The department currently has the equivalent of 754 employees.

The board took a third step by setting aside $500,000 of the sheriff's budget in a contingency fund. If Stanek needs or wants to use the money, he will have to return to the board for approval.

In contrast to last week's pointed questioning of Stanek, a former Republican legislator, the DFL-controlled board's action went smoothly.

The sheriff addressed the commissioners before the vote, touting accomplishments that include an internationally accredited crime lab, oversight of the disposal of 14 tons of prescription drugs, and a 36 percent "across the board" decrease in county crime.

The sheriff, an elected official who relies on the board for funding, agreed to the outside consultant. "We don't want some mystique behind the scenes of why we do something," he said.

The county's overall budget for 2015 is $1.8 billion. Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said it "reflects ongoing efforts of this county to run a high-quality operation," including efforts to help those who aren't doing well.

Callison called the levy increase an "appropriate" level, but Commissioner Jeff Johnson said he would have preferred to hold the tax levy flat, and voted no on the budget.

"People are hurting even though the recession is technically over," he said.

Hennepin County will collect $695 million in property taxes next year. The owner of a median-valued home of $219,600 will see an increase of $31 in the county portion of their tax bills.

The $615.3 million budget includes about $11.8 million more in spending next year, with revenue to cover the additional spending coming from program and user fees, and intergovernmental aid from the state and federal governments, rather than taxes.

The 2015 tax levy will collect $276.5 million from county taxpayers, the same as this year's.

Next year's spending plan includes $2.5 million for a computer-aided emergency dispatch system, $1.7 million for expenses at the newly acquired Vadnais Sports Center (to be covered by user fees) and $600,000 for a program to refurbish and sell tax-forfeited properties.

The county also budgeted $250,000 to comply with a federal mandate to report and reduce the number of sexual assaults in prison, $94,000 for a suburban domestic abuse pilot program, and $35,000 for an additional crime-scene processing officer.

Unlike most counties, Ramsey County plans its budget every two years and makes adjustments as needed for the second year.

Ramsey County is the only one in the metro area to propose no change in the property tax levy for next year.