MONROE - The Green County Board of Supervisors passed the county's 2012 budget Tuesday, giving property owners a 3.4 percent increase in their taxes. Only two of the 27 members present voted against the $14.6 million levy.
Sherri Fiduccia, District 16, and Cathy Cryor Burgweger, District 26, named increased taxes on the citizens of Green County as the reason behind their opposing votes.
"Not more money. We have to quit asking. We should show ourselves as an example, without asking people for more money," Fiduccia said after the meeting.
Burgweger said this was the second year she has voted against an increase in taxes and received thanks from citizens for her vote last year.
Board Chairman Art Carter explained that the state budget for 2011-2013 sets limits on municipalities that force them to levy the maximum amount allowable, or lose the advantage to levy in future years. Municipalities can levy for property taxes to the amount of last year's levy, plus the amount of net new construction. Debt service and carryover of unused levy are not subject to the levy limit.
"Going zero percent hurts ourselves in succeeding years," Carter told the board.
The proposed budget totals about $42.1 million, down slightly from the $42.2 million budgeted for 2011.
Under the new budget, the tax rate per $1,000 of equalized assessed value will increase about 3.4 percent next year, compared to the 2011 rate. The 2012 rate is $5.72, while the 2011 tax rate was $5.53. Taxes for county purposed on a $100,000 home will be $572, compared to $553 in 2011. The tax rate in 2010 was $5.40.
The proposed tax levy for the county is more than $14.6 million, an increase of about 2 percent, compared to the levy of more than $14.3 million in 2011.
The nearly $300,000 increase in the 2012 levy amount comes from $152,000 more for debt service, $65,000 in unused levy carried over, and $92,600 for net new construction.
A second year of declining property values is contributing to the increased tax rate. Equalized property values decreased 1.6 percent in 2010. Valuation for 2011 is not completed; the county is using an estimated $2.558 billion, down from $2.594 billion projected from 2011.
The county is expecting also to receive about $210,000 less in State Shared Taxes and General Transportation Aid next year.
The tax levy needed to cover the proposed budget is actually about $16.5 million. But the county is applying a projected 2011 county sales tax totaling $1.8 million, as well as $108,000 from the undesignated general fund, to reduce the net levy to $14.6 million.
The county had applied $1.8 million from 2010 sales tax to the 2011 original tax levy of about $16.1 million.
Green County Highway Department 2012 budget is divided into two parts - the general fund and one designated "other." The general fund is what gets billed to the county for different projects, including paving projects. The "other" fund is what gets billed to the state or to the different municipalities.
The projected 2012 budget for the highway department's general fund is about $4.78 million, a decrease from the $4.82 million in the 2011 budget.
The projected 2012 budget for the highway department's other fund is almost $2.96 million, compared to the 2011 budget of $2.66 million. But $3.8 million in revenues brings the 2012 budget to a surplus $886,000.
The total 2012 budget for the highway department stands at about $7.8 million, an increase of about 3.5 percent compared to the almost $7.5 million for the 2011 budget approved last fall.
The projected 2012 budget for the Green County Human Services Department includes an increase of $24,125, compared to the 2011 spending plan. Its revenues of $6.2 million fall far short, $2.5 million, of its $8.7 million budgeted expenses. The department budgeted almost $8.69 million in 2011.
The projected 2012 budget for Pleasant View Nursing Home will see an increase of about 2.17 percent, or $229,126, compared to the 2011 spending plan. The 2012 budget for the nursing home is about $10.8 million, an increase from the almost $10.6 million for the 2011 budget approved last fall. Revenues fall $887,000 short.
The general fund total expense budget comes to $17.3 million, with revenues of $6.7 million. Transfers from the highway funds of $512,700 leave a tax levy amount of almost $10 million. The general fund amount does not include debt service nor the highway, human services or Pleasant View departments.
The Green County Health Department will see an increase of about 5.26 percent for its 2012 budget.
The projected 2012 budget for the health department is $938,280, an increase of $46,860, compared to the $891,420 budget plan for 2011. The increased budget includes the department hiring a full-time public health nurse, as well as plans for renovating the UW-Extension wing.
The Green County Sheriff's Department budget for 2012 will be about $5.6 million, an increase of about $125,000, compared to the 2011 spending plan.
Personnel costs across the county are projected to decrease in 2012, down about 8 percent from 2011, due in part to savings from switching from a self-funded health plan to one offered through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. The county will also pay less for employee retirement contributions.
Personnel costs accounted for about 55 percent of the overall 2011 budget, about 2 percent more than in 2010. The increase was due to higher insurance costs.
Sherri Fiduccia, District 16, and Cathy Cryor Burgweger, District 26, named increased taxes on the citizens of Green County as the reason behind their opposing votes.
"Not more money. We have to quit asking. We should show ourselves as an example, without asking people for more money," Fiduccia said after the meeting.
Burgweger said this was the second year she has voted against an increase in taxes and received thanks from citizens for her vote last year.
Board Chairman Art Carter explained that the state budget for 2011-2013 sets limits on municipalities that force them to levy the maximum amount allowable, or lose the advantage to levy in future years. Municipalities can levy for property taxes to the amount of last year's levy, plus the amount of net new construction. Debt service and carryover of unused levy are not subject to the levy limit.
"Going zero percent hurts ourselves in succeeding years," Carter told the board.
The proposed budget totals about $42.1 million, down slightly from the $42.2 million budgeted for 2011.
Under the new budget, the tax rate per $1,000 of equalized assessed value will increase about 3.4 percent next year, compared to the 2011 rate. The 2012 rate is $5.72, while the 2011 tax rate was $5.53. Taxes for county purposed on a $100,000 home will be $572, compared to $553 in 2011. The tax rate in 2010 was $5.40.
The proposed tax levy for the county is more than $14.6 million, an increase of about 2 percent, compared to the levy of more than $14.3 million in 2011.
The nearly $300,000 increase in the 2012 levy amount comes from $152,000 more for debt service, $65,000 in unused levy carried over, and $92,600 for net new construction.
A second year of declining property values is contributing to the increased tax rate. Equalized property values decreased 1.6 percent in 2010. Valuation for 2011 is not completed; the county is using an estimated $2.558 billion, down from $2.594 billion projected from 2011.
The county is expecting also to receive about $210,000 less in State Shared Taxes and General Transportation Aid next year.
The tax levy needed to cover the proposed budget is actually about $16.5 million. But the county is applying a projected 2011 county sales tax totaling $1.8 million, as well as $108,000 from the undesignated general fund, to reduce the net levy to $14.6 million.
The county had applied $1.8 million from 2010 sales tax to the 2011 original tax levy of about $16.1 million.
Green County Highway Department 2012 budget is divided into two parts - the general fund and one designated "other." The general fund is what gets billed to the county for different projects, including paving projects. The "other" fund is what gets billed to the state or to the different municipalities.
The projected 2012 budget for the highway department's general fund is about $4.78 million, a decrease from the $4.82 million in the 2011 budget.
The projected 2012 budget for the highway department's other fund is almost $2.96 million, compared to the 2011 budget of $2.66 million. But $3.8 million in revenues brings the 2012 budget to a surplus $886,000.
The total 2012 budget for the highway department stands at about $7.8 million, an increase of about 3.5 percent compared to the almost $7.5 million for the 2011 budget approved last fall.
The projected 2012 budget for the Green County Human Services Department includes an increase of $24,125, compared to the 2011 spending plan. Its revenues of $6.2 million fall far short, $2.5 million, of its $8.7 million budgeted expenses. The department budgeted almost $8.69 million in 2011.
The projected 2012 budget for Pleasant View Nursing Home will see an increase of about 2.17 percent, or $229,126, compared to the 2011 spending plan. The 2012 budget for the nursing home is about $10.8 million, an increase from the almost $10.6 million for the 2011 budget approved last fall. Revenues fall $887,000 short.
The general fund total expense budget comes to $17.3 million, with revenues of $6.7 million. Transfers from the highway funds of $512,700 leave a tax levy amount of almost $10 million. The general fund amount does not include debt service nor the highway, human services or Pleasant View departments.
The Green County Health Department will see an increase of about 5.26 percent for its 2012 budget.
The projected 2012 budget for the health department is $938,280, an increase of $46,860, compared to the $891,420 budget plan for 2011. The increased budget includes the department hiring a full-time public health nurse, as well as plans for renovating the UW-Extension wing.
The Green County Sheriff's Department budget for 2012 will be about $5.6 million, an increase of about $125,000, compared to the 2011 spending plan.
Personnel costs across the county are projected to decrease in 2012, down about 8 percent from 2011, due in part to savings from switching from a self-funded health plan to one offered through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. The county will also pay less for employee retirement contributions.
Personnel costs accounted for about 55 percent of the overall 2011 budget, about 2 percent more than in 2010. The increase was due to higher insurance costs.