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Watershed appointee urges using rental income to reduce levy; commissioners pledge support for review
Summary
Wild Rice watershed appointee Dwayne Erickson told the board the watershed has significant earned income (about $107,000 in land rent plus investment income) and urged the board to press the watershed to reduce its levy; commissioners encouraged him to raise the proposal at the watershed’s Aug. 12 meeting and said they support looking for levy relief if justified.
Dwayne Erickson, the county’s Wild Rice watershed appointee, presented financial summaries and questioned why rental income from farmland owned by the watershed—roughly $107,000 annually—was not being used to offset the levy. Erickson asked the board to press the watershed to apply that earned income toward the administrative budget and reduce the tax request.
Erickson said the watershed also holds invested funds and receives grant income, and he advocated returning some earnings to taxpayers rather than retaining large cash balances. Commissioners responded supportively in principle and said Erickson should raise the proposal at the watershed’s August 12 meeting; several commissioners said they would back efforts to identify possible levy reductions if the funds are not committed to programmatic projects.
No formal board action was taken; staff suggested Erickson present a formal request at the watershed meeting and provide the detailed financial data the board requested.
