Supervisors approve county budget

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s budget for next fiscal year, and although taxes will stay relatively flat this year, the warning from the supervisors was that the situation can’t hold much longer.

Assistant Financial Officer Carol Kielly presented the fiscal year 2010-11 budget to the supervisors Tuesday, and reported an estimated ending fund balance on June 30, 2011 of slightly more than $6 million, representing 21 percent of the general fund. Total expenditures are up $3.4 million next year, due mostly to major projects in the Secondary Roads Department. Total revenues are staying flat as well, down just $100,000 from the previous year. Kielly noted that intergovernmental revenues, those from other governmental sources, has been shrinking, and expenditures over the past three years has gone mainly to roads, public safety and mental health services.

Although the total countywide levy rate dropped this year, from $12.33 to $11.55 per $1,000 valuation, taxpayers will find themselves paying slightly more in property taxes, due to the state-ordered 6 percent increase in residential valuations, as well as the 53.5 percent increase in agricultural land, and the 5 percent increase in commercial property.

A city dweller with a $100,000 home will pay an additional $8 next fiscal year, while the rural homeowner will pay an additional $12. Agricultural property in the county will pay an additional $18.

The supervisors feel that they have done their best to keep property taxes flat for the past three years, but warned that it may not last.

“This is the lowest levy rate we’ve had in the last seven years, so the county is doing its part,” chairman Denny Stevenson said. “But, we’re not going to be able to do this year after year. There are only so many places we can look to save money.”

While the county collects the taxes, not all the property taxes go to the county government. According to Kielly’s figures, 37.76 percent of the taxes collected on a Newton homeowner go to the City of Newton, while 38.4 percent is earmarked for Newton schools. The county receives 21 cents of each dollar, with lesser amounts to the assessor, Area 11 school, the state levy and the Ag Extension Council.