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Commissioners keep SEMCra levy at $130,000 after debate over housing trust fund
Summary
Semcra requested a $144,706 preliminary levy for 2027 to fund staffing and a housing trust fund; commissioners debated the request and ultimately approved a $130,000 preliminary levy (last year's level), citing the existing housing trust fund balance and taxpayer concerns.
The Winona County Board voted to set the preliminary SEMCra levy at $130,000 after a lengthy discussion over housing trust fund contributions and local levy impacts.
Justin Stotts, new CEO of Semcra, told commissioners the organization requested $144,706 to fund general staffing, a housing coordinator, community and housing development, and local match dollars for grants. Stotts said Semcra serves roughly 412 households on rental assistance across its service area and that each levy dollar historically yields significant regional leverage: “Over the last 10 years, every levy dollar has returned about $7.80 to the region,” he said.
Commissioners questioned whether the county should add $25,000 to the housing trust fund given a current balance of about $89,168. One commissioner argued the trust fund is a reserve that can help leverage bigger projects but another said repeatedly adding money when no projects are identified risks creating a ‘slush fund’ that taxpayers cannot access directly.
The board considered several amendment proposals (including a reduced $119,706 option) and ultimately approved a motion to keep the levy at last year’s $130,000. The vote passed after commissioners who supported returning to the prior level moved and seconded the motion.
Commissioners asked Semcra to provide more detail about planned or potential projects that would use housing trust fund dollars and to discuss whether the City of Winona should contribute for Section 8 administration. The board asked staff and Semcra to return with more specific examples of how levy dollars would be leveraged for projects.
