County Administrator Bobbie Hillery provided details to citizens attending the December 12 Truth in Taxation public hearing.
A review of 2023 included major changes that were initiated during the year including the first year of Fillmore County Corrections, the bidding and bonding for the jail project, the restructuring of the zoning department, the addition of Children’s and Adult Mental Health services, and the implementation of the Airport Master Plan.
In 2010 the legislature created the Council on Local Results and Innovation. Fillmore County has participated each year by submitting performance goals and outcomes. As a participant in the program the county is reimbursed 14 cents per capita.
The following is a summary of the county’s 13 performance measure outcomes for 2022.
• Reduction of total vehicle accidents on roadways; in 2022 there was one fatality and 31 injuries, which is less than in 2021.
• The county reached the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 72 as was the goal and an improvement over 2021.
• The county again failed to reach the national benchmark of 16% for tobacco use among adults. The county was at 19%, which was 1% lower than 2021.
• The goal to collect $7 for every dollar spent on the child support program was not met ($4.40 was collected for every dollar spent, which is still above the state average).
• The percentage of low birth weights in the county was unchanged at 5%, which is better than the national average of 8% and the state average of 7%.
• The goal to keep the median assessment ratio between 90% and 105% for three types of assessments was reached for all three classifications (Commercial/Industrial, Ag/Rural Vacant and Residential).
• The 10-day turnaround for document recording was again met.
• The goal for 100% of post-election results was also met.
• The goal to increase by 5% state and federal dollars coming into the county for veterans’ benefits was met with an increase of 17.5% in 2022.
• A goal to maintain at least 85% of veterans receiving services and/or benefits was achieved.
• A goal for 5,000 library visits per 1,000 residents was again not met. In 2022 there were 3,927 library visits per 1,000 residents which is higher than 2021. Website visits at 15,367 per 1,000 residents were down from 2021.
• A goal to keep the debt service levy under 10% was again reached at 2.26% for 2022.
• A 35% recycling rate of Municipal Solid Waste was not reached. The rate was at 30%, which was slightly down from 2021.
Budget/Levy
Hillery reviewed expenditures over the past six years and the budgeted expenditures for 2024. The two categories that stand out are highway, airport, and sanitation and general obligation debt service. Highway and airport fluctuate based on projects and related funding for those projects. Debt service was relatively stable through 2023; in 2024 it increased due to the jail project.
Increases in 2024 expenditures over 2023 are mostly due to increases in salaries and health insurance. Salaries increased 3.5% for non-union employees and there was a 15.73% increase in health insurance costs.
Savings are expected due to a decrease in contracted services including GIS, SSTS, and Mental Health. Restructuring of the Zoning Department and the addition of mental health in-house will allow for a decrease in contracted services. The Land Use Department (formerly Zoning Department) will internally operate the county’s GIS system and the SSTS program. Children’s Mental Health and Adult Mental Health Service provided in-house will be more efficient and effective for the public.
The proposed levy, a 5.99% increase for 2024, represents a 3.89% increase in expenditures and a 2.1% increase related to the jail project ($260,932 increase in bond payment). Election expenses in the amount of $128,000 for 2024 are due to it being a presidential election year.
Revenue changes include a $257,257 increase in County Program Aid, an increase in public safety and community correction dollars from the state, an increase in contracts from communities contracting for Sheriff’s Department services, increase in revenue for Childrens Mental Health services, and local option sales tax increased revenue based on average tax coming into the county.
After Hillery’s presentation the public was given an opportunity to comment. No comments were made related to the presentation. Members of the public who attended due to their notice of proposed taxes for 2024 were directed to go to the assessor’s office upstairs after the meeting. The Board of Appeal and Equalization convenes in June.
The final budget and levy will be presented for the county board’s consideration at the December 19 meeting.
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