County Administrator Bobbie Hillery explained on the purpose of the Truth in Taxation Hearing is to discuss the county’s 2025 budget and levy. Several people attended theDecember 3 meeting to express their concerns after recently receiving their property valuations and proposed 2025 property tax. Hillery said they could meet with staff from the assessor’s office after the meeting.
Citizens are given the opportunity to comment on the proposed budget and levy at this hearing. There were no comments from the public on the proposed budget or levy.
Hillery said the county continues to be active in detailing its legislative priorities. Software upgrades have been made for both security and efficiency. A contract with Schneider Geospatial for hosted GIS services allows individuals access to data without cost to the taxpayer. Local Option Sales Tax and Wheelage Tax provide additional highway construction revenue. Checks and balances continue for all county financial operations.
Citizens are given an opportunity to provide their input at every county board meeting. This was the second full year of Fillmore County Corrections and first full year of the Land Use Department which has allowed GIS and SSTS services to no longer be contracted. This is the first full year of Children’s Mental Health and Adult Mental Health services provided through the county. The new Airport Terminal Building is completed. Each position is considered for efficiency and effectiveness. A hire analysis is completed for each position that becomes vacant. Work from home is an option if the job allows.
Performance Measures
In , the state legislature created the Council on Local Results and Innovation. Fillmore County has participated each year, submitting performance goals and outcomes. A reimbursement from the state is given for participation. Performance goals are set each year by the board and results as to how the county performed in the prior year are reported at a public meeting.
Hillery summarized the county’s performance measures for 2023. Reduce vehicle accidents on county and township roads: there were four fatalities and 29 injuries, which is an increase in fatalities from 2022 and a slight decrease in injuries.
Maintain Pavement Quality Index rating of 2.8. This goal was reached.
Keep tobacco use lower than national benchmark among adults. This goal was not reached as Fillmore County was at 18%, the national level was 16%, and the state level was 15%.
The goal of $7 for the child support program cost effectiveness was not reached. The county collected $4.57 for every $1 spent on the program. The state average is $2.68. The county is ranked 17th in the state.
A goal for the percentage of low birth-weight births to be lower than the national benchmark was again reached. The county is at 5%, the national percentage is 8%, and the state percentage is 7%.
The goal to keep the Median ratio between 90% and 105% for three types of assessment ratios was again reached (commercial 92%, Ag/rural 94.85%, and residential 93.61%).
The goal to meet 10-day turnaround for document recording was met in 2023.
The goal of 100% post-election results was met.
A goal to increase by 5% state and federal dollars brought into the county for veterans’ benefits was not met. The county had only a 1% increase. The county lost 45 veterans in 2023.
Maintain 85% of veterans receiving services/benefits in the county. This goal was met.
The goal of 5,000 visits per 1,000 residents annually to a library was not met. There were 4,167 total visits per 1,000 residents, which is an increase from 2022 (3,927 visits). There were 7,165 website visits per 1,000 residents.
The county did meet its goal to keep the debt service levy under 10%. The debt service levy for 2023 was 2.12%.
A goal to reach a recycling rate of 35% was not met in 2023. The recycling rate was 31%, which is better than 2022.
Budget
Department heads presented their budgets by the end of August. Health insurance was projected to increase 30%. The health insurance increase turned out to be 7.65%, which allowed the county to lower the original proposed levy increase of over 9% down to a proposed levy increase of 4.468%. The total proposed levy is $13,729,152. The 2025 levy per capita is $646.75.
Hillery explained the biggest changes to expenditures and revenues year to year are in highway, airport and sanitation. These shifts are driven by planned projects and associated state or federal funding.
County Program Aid from the state decreased $24,890 for 2025. Revenues are increased due to the first full year of Children’s Mental Health and Adult Mental Health services. Mental health revenues and expenditures will be monitored to determine if there is a return on investment.
A 3% cost of living increase was in the 2025 budget for non-union and union employees.
In 2025, many of the objectives of the county will be continued. A discussion and plan for Solid Waste will be necessary. Phase I of the Jail Project will be completed and Phase II, remodeling of the existing building, will take place throughout 2025. Body camera policy and procedures for the Sheriff’s Department are expected to be implemented. The county will continue to look into collaborative efforts, both internally and with other local governments.
The board will likely consider the final certification of the 2025 budget/levy at their December 17 meeting.
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