Richfield Today
Supports "for a country way of life"                   
On any given day this site receives more than 150 hits
  • Welcome
  • About Us
    • Quote of the Day
  • RT Blog
  • Governments
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • Events Calendar

Washington County Budget Passes

11/8/2013

0 Comments

 
County overwhelmingly approves 2014 budget
Lower property tax levy also passes

By LINDA MCALPINE  of the Daily News Staff
Little was said Thursday night as an overwhelming majority of Washington County supervisors voted to approve the county’s $114 million operating budget for 2014, but the only two to vote against it had plenty to say after the vote.

No one spoke for or against the proposed budget during the public hearing portion of Thursday’s County Board meeting.

The 2014 budget includes operating expenses of $114 million and revenues of $77.5 million. The property tax levy is $36.4 million, which is $944,125 less than last year.

The property tax rate went down, as well, to $2.86 per $1,000 of assessed property value. At that rate, the average county tax bill for a $200,000 home will be $572.64, which is $3.16 less than the 2013 average county tax bill.

“This is the fourth year in a row that Washington County will reduce property taxes without reducing essential county services,” County Administrative Coordinator Douglas Johnson said. “To put that in perspective, the countywide tax levy in 2014 will be lower than it was in 2006 and every year since then.”

Twenty-six supervisors voted to approve the budget as proposed. Two supervisors cast no votes — Michael Miller and Michael Bassill, both of West Bend. Supervisors Timothy Michalak of Hartford and Mark McCune of the town of Erin did not attend.

After the meeting, which lasted roughly 20 minutes, Miller said he had several reasons for not approving the budget as proposed. 

“I pay taxes like everyone else and I can appreciate the lower tax rate, but I don’t want to see the county getting hurt in the future because of it,” he said, noting that the reduced levy set for 2014 will be the starting point for the state levy limit in 2015 and beyond. 

“I was also upset with the way the Finance Committee handled the capital improvement requests from the departments. It’s like the requests were completely ignored,” Miller said. 

He said he also took issue with taking money “from the undesignated general fund” to help fund the property tax cut. 

In 2013, the county dipped into its undesignated general fund to the tune of $500,000 to accomplish the property tax cut, and it did the same this year. 

“We can’t say we have a balanced budget if we’re taking money from somewhere else to pay expenses,” Miller said. 

Supervisor Michael Bassill shared some of the same concerns as Miller when it came to voting against the budget. 

“I don’t understand why some departments always get budget increases,” Bassill said. “If they know they’re going to get more money, it doesn’t encourage them to be efficient.” 

Bassill was also unhappy with the meeting. 

According to a rule established two years ago, supervisors were to present any proposed amendments to the budget to the Finance Committee well in advance of Thursday’s hearing and vote. 

“That means there’s no chance to change or question things from the floor during the board meeting. It all gets done in committee with little public input,” Bassill said. 

It was the last budget meeting Johnson will take part in, as he will retire in December. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About

    RT Blog will let you know the latest happenings around Richfield.

    Archives

    November 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    2014 Election
    2015 Election
    2016 Election
    2017 Election
    2018 Election
    2019 Election
    2020 Election
    Business News
    Government Topics
    Just News
    Local Events
    Political Posts

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from xbouwman, Pink Sherbet Photography, rumimume, VLMPO, roberthuffstutter, andreavallejos, steakpinball