The Mower County board is set to approve its 2016 levy and budget on Tuesday.

The board is expected to vote to approve its 2016 levy at $19.25 million — an increase at about 3.4 percent or $635,700 — at 10 a.m. during its meeting in the board room of the Mower County Government Center.

A driving factor is new positions, including an assistant county attorney, an environmental technician, a human resource technician, a finance worker, a child and family social worker, and a part-time jailer.

“In general most of the employee requests are due to work load or due to downward shifts from the state of Minnesota,” County Coordinator Oscarson said earlier this month.

Legislative and MNsure changes drove the need for new employees in Mower County Health and Human Services, and Oscarson noted the county’s high crime and poverty rates also drives the need for services.

“When you look at our budget, the changes are basically due to the service levels that we have to answer to,” Oscarson said at a prior meeting.

While the county could still lower the levy increase, board members have said that is unlikely due to staffing needs and other requests.

In other business, the board is set to discuss its rural recycling drop boxes.