Possible state aids cut outlined for commissioners

OUTING -- Cass Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson told the Cass County Board Tuesday the county could lose $3,905,488 if all state aids to counties were cut and a market value credit is taken into account.

This total does not include separate highway maintenance and construction state aids, she said.

Earlier projections that estimated the county could lose up to $3 million did not take into consideration a $1 million market value credit, according to Anderson.

In effect, she said, the county would get $1 million less than $12 million the county certified to the state for the 2003 local property tax levy besides losing $3 million in state aids.

State aids the 2003 county budget anticipates, but could lose for the general fund include $209,614 county criminal justice aid, $621,321 homestead/agricultural credit, $64,556 solid waste management tax, $78,842 water plan/board of water and soil resources, $351,604 state payment in lieu of tax and from the local levy $460,520 market value credit, Anderson reported to the board.

Health, Human and Veterans Services Department could lose $271,574 family preservation aid, $418,350 homestead/agricultural credit, $340,836 social services block grant, $119,124 community health service, and from the local levy $310,070 market value credit, she added.

The county's land department has budgeted $117,185 state payment in lieu of tax, which could be lost, Anderson said. The same potential is there for the county's Unorganized Townships, where the budget anticipated getting $2,952 from state payment in lieu of tax.

Cass' 2003 budget calls for county road and bridge fund to receive $233,553 in homestead/agricultural credit and $173,100 in local market value credit; county debt service fund, to receive $53,642 homestead/agricultural credit and $39,760 market value credit; and Cass' share of Kitchigami Library operations $22,335 homestead/agricultural credit and $16,550 market value credit.

Anderson said the Legislature could cut or diminish any or all of these funds the county had expected.

Association of Minnesota Counties calculated the breakdown by departments for each member county, Anderson said.

Cass' board set a special meeting for 9 a.m. Feb. 25 at the courthouse in Walker to work on a contingency plan to address any cuts the state potentially may make.