Budget, tax levy approved The Stearns County Board of Commissioners approved the budget and levy for 2004. Next year’s budget stands at $87 million. Despite a $4.5 million cut from the state, the budget is increasing by only 1.1 percent. That increase is because of an increase in jail costs due to additional state prisoners now housed in county jails. Stearns County’s tax levy will be $42 million, an increase of 8.6 percent. Although the levy is up, taxpayers won’t notice an increase in their property taxes unless their home value increased. This is due in part to the county’s increased tax base caused by the 12 percent growth in new home construction. Emergency radio system plans The board agreed to move ahead with a plan to pursue a statewide radio system that would be used during emergencies. The county received a $3 million grant from the state to build a tower for the radio system, which would allow for universal communication with all emergency responders. The plan at this point is only to move forward with Phase I, which in-volves initial planning and overview – conducting a study on the system and its costs, and applying for the grant. “What this grant does is give us a backbone of a system which we can expand upon,” said Marvin Klug, Emergency Management Director. “It gives us the basic infrastructure, and if dollars become available in the future we can build upon it.” A new communication system is needed because oftentimes in disasters other communication systems such as cell phones don’t work. That creates a real problem for emergency responders who are then unable to communicate with each other. Restorative justice symposium The commissioners cancelled the Sept. 23 meeting so they can attend a symposium on restorative justice. Key stakeholders such as business owners, church leaders, community leaders, citizens, judges, attorneys, etc. are invited to attend and learn about the restorative justice system and to develop a plan to apply these principles in Stearns County. Restorative justice involves the victim of the crime in the legal process, instead of just focusing on the judge and criminal. The symposium will take place Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the American Heritage Bank in St. Cloud.
