Benton County adopts proposed 2025 levy and budget, approves pay and road measures

Benton County commissioners adopted a proposed 2025 levy of 4.98% (stated in the meeting as $1,200,000) and approved the countys 2025 operating budget during their regular board meeting. County staff said most of the increase supports planned road work and personnel costs; the presenter said the median residential property, valued at $276,000, would see an estimated county tax increase of $38 a year (about $3.22 a month).

The boards staff presentation said the budget includes across-the-board wage steps and a 2.5% general wage increase, the first year of class-and-comp maintenance, expanded dental benefits for employees, and new positions including detention officers, a highway environmental/ditch inspector, and human-services eligibility specialists. Staff estimated the personnel and related costs of the classification recommendations at about $155,000 in 2025 and said those costs are included in the proposed levy.

Commissioners approved the budget and levy in two steps as required by Minnesota law: they adopted the proposed levy (the maximum levy at this point) and then approved the 2025 budget. The board set the statutorily required truth-in-taxation public meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Benton County Boardroom.

During the same meeting, the board approved a package of personnel classification and pay-study recommendations presented by Tessa, who outlined reclassifications and career-ladder changes across public safety and county administration. The board discussed implementation mechanics, including the use of letters of understanding with bargaining units and department-head discretion for career-ladder moves.

The board also approved several highway-related purchases and contracts announced at the meeting: replacement of an aging fuel card-access and monitoring system (vendor quote $22,004.96), and the award of a construction contract for full-depth reclamation of County Road 53 to Knife River, the low bidder at $245,861.35. Staff said the Knife River bid was almost 11% under the engineers estimate.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 1———through 9): motion carried by voice vote. - Adopt proposed 2025 levy (first step): motion carried by voice vote. - Approve 2025 budget (as presented): motion carried by voice vote. - Approve DDA maintenance and classification recommendations (personnel changes): motion carried by voice vote. - Approve replacement of fuel access/monitoring system (vendor quote $22,004.96): motion carried by voice vote. - Award County Road 53 construction contract to Knife River ($245,861.35): motion carried by voice vote.

What the board said and next steps

County staff stressed that much of the budget increase pays for a large road program planned for 2025 and for personnel costs related to retention and service levels. Staff also noted the countys general fund balance provides about 6.1 months of expenditure coverage (above the countys 5-month standard) and that the proposed budget uses roughly $623,000 of fund balance for capital projects.

The boards action was procedural: the adopted levy sets the maximum now and the board may reduce the levy before the December final levy hearing if it chooses. The truth-in-taxation hearing on Dec. 3 will allow public comment on the levy and final tax notice calculations.

Direct quotes

"It was the board's consensus to, have a levy increase of 4.98% or $1,200,000 in 2024," said the county presenter during the budget review.

"The operating budget shows a fairly substantial increase, but most of that is due to one of the largest road programs that we have planned in 2025," staff added.

The board did not schedule further votes on the items approved today; implementation steps such as sending letters of understanding to bargaining units and finalizing road contracts were discussed as next actions.