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County tax rate inches up under budget plan
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MONROE - Green County taxpayers will see their county property taxes increase about 1 percent under the proposed 2014 Green County budget.

The budget plan increases the county's tax rate for next year by 6 cents, from last year's $5.78 to $5.84 per $1,000 of property value. That means, if the proposed budget is approved as it now stands, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $584 in county taxes next year, up $6 from $578 this year.

Last year, the supervisors also approved a 6-cent tax rate increase, from $5.72 in 2012 to $5.78 in 2013.

County supervisors received the budget at their monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 15. A public hearing and budget session is set for Nov. 12, with supervisors expected to approve the final budget at that time.

Total expenditures for 2014 are projected to be $44,369,363. That's about $328,00 less than where the county expects to come in for expenses this year: With two months left in 2013, the county projects it will end the year at $44,697,615. However, the county budgeted expenses at $41,568,982 for this year.

The proposed budget requires a preliminary tax levy of $16,818,759. The Finance and Accounting Committee intends to use 2013 sales tax collections in the amount of $2 million to reduce the net levy to $14,818,759.

This net levy is slightly less than the amount allowed under Wisconsin's levy limits, according to Harvey Mandel, chair of the Finance and Accounting Committee.

"The levy increase, combined with another year of declining property values in Green County, results in a 2014 levy rate of $5.84 per $1,000 of property value, a 1.1 percent increase over the 2013 levy rate of $5.78," he wrote in his introduction to the budget proposal.

"Revenues remain fairly consistent, but departments must still contend with increased expenses such as payroll and fringe benefits, utilities, supplies and fuel," Mandel said.

The county expects total revenues will be $29,386,766 next year, up less than one-half percent to this year's projected revenues of $29,259,636. Revenues for 2013 were budged at $26,798,339

Next year is the final year of the voter-approved referendum allowing $890,000 per year to offset the costs of operating Pleasant View Nursing Home. Just under that amount has been levied for 2014. The Nursing Home Committee and Finance Committee are currently considering a referendum for 2015 and beyond.