03/25/2026
At the recent town hall meeting, a question was brought up about a 35% increase in the County’s budget from 2021 to 2026. Expenditures (Budget Authority*) for the county include all expenses paid out for the entire calendar year with monies from the ad valorum* tax, grant funded programs, sales tax or money that has been carried over from previous years.
*Ad Valorum is a tax based on the assessed monetary value of an item, such as real estate or personal property, rather than a fixed amount. This tax amount over the past 5 years has only increased 19% not the 35% that was discussed at the town hall meeting. This amount funds the General Fund*, Sheriff Office, Road & Bridge, Noxious W**d and the Senior Center.
The *General Fund is for the Commission, Treasurer, Clerk/Election, Appraiser, Register of Deeds, Attorney, District Court, Landfill, Recycling, Banner Lake, and the Emergency Management departments
*Budget Authority is the monies a department is allowed to expense in the current fiscal year without having to amend the department’s budget. The budget authority is what increased 35% (the spending abilities) not the ad valorum budget.
