Isanti commissioners confirm payments to organizations

The Isanti County Board of Commissioners approved paying its funding obligations to several local organizations as part of its meeting held Tuesday, June 18.

But the commissioners made it clear they would take a close look at those appropriations as they began the budgeting process for 2025.

The commissioners approved and adopted two payments of $458,277 for eight different organizations when it approved the 2024 budget, then paid the first half of the obligation in January.

These eight organizations, and the second-half amounts budgeted, are:

• Isanti County Historical Society, $22,500.

• Isanti County Agricultural Society, $25,000.

• Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District, $97,402.

• Central MN Council on Aging, Inc., $1,267.

• Isanti County Commission on Aging, $30,000.

• Central Minnesota Initiative Foundation, $3,075.

• Family Pathways, $11,750.

• East Central Regional Library, $267,283.

Before approving the payment, Commissioner Alan Duff set in motion discussion on the 2025 budget implications.

“Do commissioners want to bring these organizations in front of us to have discussions for budgeting for next year?” he asked.

As a group, the commissioners thought it was a good idea, but for different reasons.

“I think it’s good to hear what they’ve done, to hear their story,” Commissioner Bill Berg said. “They can fill us in on how inflation is affecting them, so we can hear about their needs.”

Commissioner Kristi LaRowe was more interested in learning how the organizations are spending the money.

“I would like to see their budgets, if possible,” she said. “I’d like to know their need and where their money is going.”

Duff asked staff to indicate to these groups to bring information on where their cash reserves stand.

“It’s kind of nice to know their financial stability as an asset to our community,” he said. “It helps us understand how invested they are to the community.”

Council unanimously approved its contributions to these obligations and also set up several workshops to work on next year’s budget.

The meetings have been set for Tuesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. (following the Economic Development meeting that morning), as well as Tuesday, July 30, and Tuesday, Aug. 27, both starting at 9 a.m.