2011-2012 Winneshiek County budget is approved

It was a quiet public hearing Monday on the proposed 2011-2012 Winneshiek County budget.  20 people attended the noon hearing--most of them county department heads.

County Board Chairman Les Askelson praised the work of those department heads, saying they had "held the line" on spending for this year.  The budget approved following the public hearing calls for $19.5 million in spending--a drop of $800,000 from this year.

The county was able to reap the benefits of paying off loans for construction projects at Wellington Place and at the County Jail.  That saved $492,000 in debt payments.

Askelson said a big help was the fact that the county's three employee unions accepted contracts that called for 1.75 percent pay raises this year, rather than higher raises.

As part of the budget approval, supervisors also approved 1.75 percent pay raises for elected officials, reducing the recommendations of the county's Compensation Board.