Wednesday Hubbard County commissioners set a maximum proposed levy of approximately $10.6 million for property taxes payable in 2008, a 4.2853 percent increase from 2007.
The county's proposed levy must be certified by Sept. 17 and once certified can be decreased but not increased.
County auditor/treasurer Pam Heeren presented options to the board, based on three percentages and the projected revenue they would generate.
But she lobbied for a self-imposed "levy limit" to avoid having to hold a truth in taxation hearing later this year.
Heeren calculated the 4.2853 percent proposed levy means commissioners have to trim more than $1.2 million from 2008 proposed budgets before they are approved in December.
ADVERTISEMENT
But Heeren also projected revenues from non-levy sources, mostly interest on reserves, will likely increase about $750,000. If the projection is accurate, commissioners will only need to cut $493,000 from proposed budgets.
The numbers commissioners reviewed Wednesday also showed revenue from proposed levies for each county fund. Levy amounts were tentatively set at $4.9 million for the general fund, $3 million for road and bridges and $2.3 million for social services.
Levy amounts for the general fund, road and bridges and social services can be adjusted as the board sees fit. Levies for the regional library at $191,927 and jail bonds at $669,992 were set previously and cannot change.
The 4.29 percent proposed increase will allow Hubbard County to avoid holding a truth in taxation meeting before approving budgets in December.
Truth in taxation meetings are mandated by the state for substantial tax increases, Heeren explained.
For the truth in taxation meetings, Heeren said, "I put together a whole lot of paperwork that nobody ever sees because nobody ever shows up. It compares budgets with other counties and taxes and levies and values and it doesn't mean a thing to anybody... It takes a tremendous amount of time and money to have it."
"Well, from my perspective, a truth in taxation meeting is like taking money and throwing it out the window," said commissioner Dick Devine.
Heeren said she is willing to show the few citizens interested in comparisons information she already has on tax rates. Hubbard County has the second lowest rate compared to Becker, Wadena and Cass counties, she added.
ADVERTISEMENT
Commissioners made no formal recommendations for the 26 department budgets funded from the general fund at the meeting.
"You haven't done a whole lot of anything with these budgets, you understand that," Heeren said
The board will continue to meet with county departments until final budgets are approved in December.
