A major focus of the meeting was the 2025 preliminary budget and levy, which received approval after extensive discussion. The Board debated funding for Library Services, with one commissioner advocating for a 2% increase instead of the requested 4%, emphasizing the value of libraries to the community. Another commissioner expressed concerns about potential emergencies before the December meeting. Ultimately, the motion to approve the budget and levy passed with mixed support.

Health and Human Services (HHS) faced a projected budget deficit exceeding $2 million, driven by rising costs in mental health and probation placements. The anticipated loss of $1 million in federal and state reimbursements for out-of-home placements and an additional $700,000 in mental health expenses exacerbated the financial strain. Efforts to mitigate this deficit included a combination of cost reductions and revenue enhancements, with a proposed levy increase of 3.6% to support HHS operations. Five positions within HHS were identified for sunset through attrition to achieve cost savings without layoffs.

The Board also discussed the financial burden of jail services, particularly the steep $450,000 increase in the medical contract over the previous year and the high costs of housing inmates out of the county. The projected levy increase of 7.88% was primarily driven by these uncontrollable expenditures, including wages, jail medical expenses, and the HHS deficit. Specific allocations within the levy included 1.7% for the Sheriff’s Office’s jail medical expenses, 2.6% for salaries, insurance, and benefits, and 3.6% for HHS.

In addition to budgetary concerns, the Board addressed the utilization of ARPA funds. Discussions highlighted the allocation of remaining ARPA dollars to support various needs, including mental health services and unfunded mandates in HHS. The Board emphasized the importance of transitioning from one-time ARPA funding to more sustainable financial practices.

A update was provided on the Housing Trust Fund, which was established in 2023 to address housing affordability and availability. The United Way of the Piji area was selected to administer the fund, forming a cabinet with representatives from various community sectors. The cabinet’s survey revealed that “limited” and “expensive” were common descriptors of housing in Beltrami County. The cabinet is moving forward with two RFPs for agency support services and developers, expected to address workforce housing and other housing needs.

The Board also discussed the ongoing PLS or PLSS corner remonumentation project, deciding to continue funding at previous levels using ARPA dollars. This project aims to complete the remaining townships, maintaining momentum despite an unsuccessful state grant application the previous year.

Further topics included the utilization of the Local Area Tribal Consistency Fund (LCF), a two-year allocation totaling $400,000. Approximately $44,000 had been authorized for a National Association of Counties initiative, with around $395,000 remaining unspent. The Board acknowledged the flexibility of these funds for various uses, emphasizing their one-time nature.

The Board received an update on the opioid settlement fund, with a meeting scheduled for October 15th. Collaboration with the University of Minnesota Extension Office on SNAP-Ed programming aimed to reduce service duplication and enhance synergies.

Regarding the jail project, the county received full payment for easements related to the project, amounting to about $43,000. Progress on easement agreements with the City of Bagley and negotiations with private property owners were reported, with no adverse impacts on the building site. The pre-qualification process for bidders is ongoing, with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for October 1st, followed by an evaluation of bids in November.

The meeting concluded with announcements, including a team-building event for the management team and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new jail set for September 25th. The next scheduled meeting was confirmed for October 1, 2024.