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When politicians vote to spend money, they are expressing priorities.  An example of the balancing act required to navigate the county budget was the discussion at the last Budget and Finance Committee of the whole County Board.

The extension of County Road 17 in Lent Township is being taken off the to-do list.  It was the conclusion of the commissioners that the county needs to spend money on roads that already exist.  

(The regular County Board meeting June 21 was the Transportation Improvement Plan adoption action scheduled vote.)

A tentative plan to use federal ARPA aid to assist Chisago County school districts enhancing security is also falling by the wayside;  with focus potentially shifting to using the $300,000 to attract and retain public safety staff.  

Districts may still be submitting information on specific security needs, but consensus was the money must be spent only on structures located in Chisago County.    (For instance;  Cambridge Isanti has county residents as students,  but no buildings here.  Forest Lake District has over 1,000 students who reside in Chisago, but only one elementary building is here.) 

Commissioner Rick Greene noted that “...we are not against safety for the kids but we need people (in sheriff’s and 9-1-1)”

Commissioner Marlys Dunne added she is “hesitant” on county spending on schools and is concerned about being unable to fill job vacancies in public safety.

Commissioner Dan Dahlberg remarked that public safety “is our job” and school needs are up to the districts to address.  Money not already allocated from the ARPA allotment should be retained, he said.

Commissioner Ben Montzka summed up,  saying it appears school security funding efforts can wait for now.  But he’d like to see interested districts submit detailed expenses for specific buildings in the county. 

Montzka stressed that student safety is at risk, and  “If we have a tragedy (active shooter) not doing this (financial aid) would be a mistake.”

The Board’s passion for massive funding earmarked earlier for the Internet, is also waning. This may be due to lackluster response to a call for proposals from local entities that have pending projects.  (There is $1.5 million left in the line item for ARPA dedicated to broadband) and the availability of funding from other sources.

And,  renewal contracts for county lobbying services are getting new scrutiny.  None of the commissioners support the level of increase proposed from the lobbying firm Larkin Hoffman.

Elevated in budgeting importance instead (as of last week anyway) is the urgent need to install reliable auxiliary power.

Word is the two main generators are “failing’ and parts are obsolete and there’s been minor issues with power. Now that 9-1-1 and communication/ radio systems are incorporated into the network, generator equipment is of utmost importance. In Commissioner Dunne’s words, “We can’t let the generators go down.”

Commissioner Jim Swenson, though,  said the Cummins estimate of $419,000 for purchase, delivery and installation to replace the two generators, with one more powerful generator, is “too much.”  He added, “I am only one vote,  if you want to go with it.”

The Budget and Finance meetings are for workshop style information review and lead up to budget revisions in the current year and help develop an outline for next year’s levy and spending as well.  The meetings are usually in mid-afternoon.

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