The county board will review the proposal to merge human services offices in 12 counties, including Mower, where it could save $1 million.

Mark Howard of Accenture Consultants will speak to the board at 1 p.m. Tuesday about the plan to merge and overhaul the offices with high case loads and high costs.

The boards in each county must make a preliminary decision by early June on whether to move forward or drop out for merger talk to continue. Counties can still back out after the initial vote.

Talk of the redesign comes in response to a push from the state for counties to meet certain standards on human services and a growing need for costly human services that stems in part from the aging baby boomer population.

Mower County Human Services Director Julie Stevermer said during a March meeting that the county could save up to $1 million in future expenditures if it joined forces. Olmsted County — the region’s largest county — could reduce five-year costs by as much as $21 million, according to a report prepared by Accenture. While smaller counties like Fillmore would only save about $150,000, many of the details depend on which counties decide to be a part of the redesign.

The county board meeting starts with human services business at 8:30 p.m. General business starts at 9:30 a.m. before the board recesses around 11:30 a.m. The board will reconvene at 1 p.m. for the redesign discussion.

Other business

—The board will recommend who to fill the vacancies on the Cedar River Watershed District Board.

—The board will recognize Jody LaVasseur’s retirement after 32 years working as an appraiser.

—The board will discuss a 3.2 Beer license for Meadow Greens Golf Course.

—Public Works Director Mike Hanson will discuss a road project in Brownsdale.