News Flash

Wright County News

Posted on: December 21, 2022

County Board Adopts 2023 Budget, Levy

At its Dec. 20 meeting, the Wright County Board of Commissioners formally approved its 2023 budget and certified levy. County Administrator Lee Kelly said that this process began in May and that Tuesday’s approval was the end of a long journey to try to arrive at a levy figure that wasn’t overly burdensome for residents and property owners.

“This is the final step in the budget process for the 2023 budget,” Kelly said. “There is a 3.89 percent levy increase for a budget of just over $180 million and a levy of $90.6 million.”

One of the issues the board faced during the process was the rare combination of residential property prices rising by more than 20 percent – a problem felt in Wright County, all of Minnesota and in most parts of the country – while inflation drove up the cost of practically everything needed to run the county from fuel to supplies.

Commissioner Darek Vetsch pointed out that the burden on taxpayers took a dramatic shift to residential landowners, who saw a significant spike in their valuations while commercial and agricultural properties remained effectively the same.

“I want to thank my fellow county board members and county staff on their diligence in trying to be fiscally responsible and trying to come forward with a levy that impacted residents as little as possible,” Vetsch said. “We know that residential taxpayers would have seen increases regardless of what we did at the county. That increase was going to substantial because of the shifting of capacity from commercial to residential. Commercial properties are seeing significant tax reductions while residential ones – even at a 3.89 percent levy increase – are seeing increases because of the way the tax system is set up in Minnesota.”

What was critical to making the 2023 levy more palatable was a difficult ask of county department heads in late-summer – to have each department reduce its budget request by 7 percent. The Finance Department was also tasked with reducing the tax rate lower than was wanted, but necessary to help out residential property owners this year while not creating the potential of a repeat of 2018, where years of putting off needed changes and big-ticket bond payments resulted in a 17.3 percent levy increase.

Vetsch expressed his gratitude for staff being able to achieve this difficult request and accomplishing it at a time when cash-strapped property owners needed it most.

“I want to make sure that we thank our department heads for making significant reductions wherever possible,” Vetsch said. “I also want to thank our Finance staff for helping us look at what we could do to minimize the impact this year and not create a bottleneck that would shift it on to future years.”

Nobody likes taxes and the county board was aware of the unique circumstances facing property owners (including themselves). For some, any increase is too much, but the commissioners did what they felt was best for the residents of the county as it continues to grow and the demands for service increase as well.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Wright County News

Free COVID Test Kits Available

Posted on: September 25, 2023

Sheriff's Office Responds to Farm Fire

Posted on: September 15, 2023

Braddock Avenue Construction Update

Posted on: September 5, 2023

Braddock Avenue Construction Update

Posted on: August 25, 2023

Road Work in Monticello Begins Monday

Posted on: August 18, 2023

Schroeder Park Beach Re-Opens

Posted on: August 10, 2023

Co. Rd. 139 Re-Opens in Delano

Posted on: August 4, 2023

National Night Out Coming Tuesday

Posted on: July 28, 2023

Sheriff: Drowning at Lake Pulaski

Posted on: July 5, 2023

Offices Closed Tuesday, July 4

Posted on: July 3, 2023

Wright County in Air Quality Alert

Posted on: June 14, 2023

Wright County is Hiring

Posted on: May 25, 2023

CSAH 3 in Cokato to Close May 22

Posted on: May 17, 2023

May 14-20 is National Police Week

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Wright County in Red Flag Warning

Posted on: May 2, 2023

No Mow May Right Around the Corner

Posted on: April 26, 2023

CSAH 32 to Re-Open This Afternoon

Posted on: April 27, 2023

Otsego Park Closed

Posted on: April 17, 2023

April is Donate Life Month

Posted on: April 7, 2023

HHS Honors Celebrate Diversity Month

Posted on: April 5, 2023

Update on Howard Lake Shooting

Posted on: March 21, 2023

Dairy Producers Night Out Postponed

Posted on: March 9, 2023

Compost & Recycling Center Closed Thursday

Posted on: February 21, 2023

Monticello City Hall Closed Indefinitely

Posted on: February 16, 2023

Tilbury Makes First Court Appearance

Posted on: January 31, 2023

Buffalo Strong Week Coming Feb. 6-10

Posted on: January 24, 2023

Shooting in Monticello

Posted on: January 17, 2023

County Offices Closed Monday

Posted on: January 13, 2023

Parks & Rec Winter Rentals Begin Jan. 7

Posted on: December 30, 2022

Kids Can Track Santa Through NORAD

Posted on: December 23, 2022

County Offices Closed Monday

Posted on: December 23, 2022

Highway Department Provides Storm Update

Posted on: December 22, 2022

Recycling Center to Close Early Today

Posted on: December 22, 2022

License Center Drop Box Available 24/7

Posted on: December 21, 2022

HHS Hosted Child Foster Care Holiday Party

Posted on: December 12, 2022

Road Work on CSAH 19 In St. Michael Today

Posted on: December 12, 2022

County Offices Closed Thursday and Friday

Posted on: November 23, 2022

Public Health Conducting Flu Shot Clinics

Posted on: November 18, 2022

Drought Worsening in Minnesota

Posted on: November 10, 2022

Bertram Boo-tacular Coming Saturday

Posted on: October 25, 2022

Absentee Voting Information Available

Posted on: October 25, 2022

Co. Rd. 107 to Re-Open Friday

Posted on: October 20, 2022

DNR Addresses Drought in Minnesota

Posted on: October 14, 2022

MnROAD Back Up and Running on I-94

Posted on: October 13, 2022

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on: October 11, 2022

Disabled Veteran Duck Hunt A Big Success

Posted on: October 10, 2022

Drought Worsening in Minnesota

Posted on: October 6, 2022