Initially, the 2021 budget called for the levy to go up to $29.8 million, but the commissioners chose to spend just over $1 million of the county’s reserve funds instead of putting forward a higher levy. Some of the factors that led to the increase include an 8.9% increase to the county's health insurance premiums and a 28.6% jump in its property and worker's compensation insurance costs. County coordinator Dennis Genereau said the county would have needed to raise the levy by more than 5.5% to not use any reserves. CARES Act funding recipients approved The board also approved the final CARES Act funding distribution during the meeting.