Sandstone Township

Seat B

Linda Thomson

Term: March 2021 - March 2024

320-515-1734

Clerk Ailene Croup

Appointed

320-279-3513

Sandstone Township Board will attend the city of Sandstone's regular meeting on Jan. 19, 2022, 6:30 p.m., at Sandstone City Hall.

Sandstone Township is attempting to hammer out a fire contract

Townships are known as grassroots government. Their residents determine how much their taxes will be. It’s up to the township board to be good stewards of that money and spend it accordingly, with every attempt to see into the next year’s needs. Only the township’s residents can raise the levy.
A city’s levy is set by the city council.
At the annual township meetings in March, all 1,790 townships in the state of Minnesota are told by their electors (residents) how much they can levy (tax) for the next year.
Sandstone Township Board has been trying to get a handle on the ever-growing increases in the city of Sandstone’s yearly fire service bill. The township was charged approximately $14,000 in 2019 and $31,000 in 2021 for fire service from the city.
The townships get some extra dollars from the county from timber sales and tax forfeited properties that sell. But, last year, the commissioners approved keeping more of that in the county’s coffers.
Those dollars help the townships to build a reserve for unseen emergencies like the floods in 2016.
The township’s electors only increased the levy in 2021 by $10,000 and had increased expenses of $26,000 which included the new grader payment and the $13,000 increase in fire service costs. They had an additional unforeseen cost Of $14,200 to extend the grader warranty in case of a serious breakdown.
The township has averaged three fires per year over the past eight years. They have offered the city of Sandstone $20,000 a year for three years with a consumer price index increase on the third year. They also gave the city a choice of $10,000 per year plus $2,000 per fire with the total not to exceed $24,000.
The township board is trying to extend the contract over a 3-year period so they can build reserves after the 40 percent increase in the fire formula depleted existing reserves.
Sandstone Township Board should be commended for their patience and perseverance. They do something unknown in most municipal governments. They have a quarterly budget review to keep constant track of expenses.
I’m not a resident of Sandstone Township. I’m their clerk. Having covered municipal government, for many years, as a newspaper reporter, ill say the Sandstone Township Board is something to watch and admire.
For those who want to be involved in their township’s government, March 8, 2022 is the day to be heard and give input on what your township taxes will be in 2023. sandstonetownship.com
Ailene Croup
Hinckley

03 Jan.

The Sandstone Township Board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m., at Pine County Government Center in Sandstone, MN.

06 Jan.

13 Jan.