Madison County Budget: Levy up, but Rate Down Slightly

The Madison County Board of Supervisors will take comment on the county’s 2010 spending plan at two public hearings Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9:20 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the County Office Complex in Wampsville.

County Budget Officer says decrease will keep tax rate about even with 2009

By Martha E. Conway

The Madison County Board of Supervisors will hold two public hearings on the county budget tomorrow. The first will be held at 9:20 a.m. after other hearings planned; the second will be at 7 p.m.

Both public hearings will be held in the Board of Supervisors Chambers on the second floor of the County Office Building Complex on Court Street in Wampsville.

According to County Administrator/Budget Officer Paul Miller, the tentative budget calls for a 2.2-percent increase in the tax levy, but with help from the county’s fund balance, the tax rate will fall slightly from about $7.58 per thousand of assessed value for 2009 to $7.38 for 2010. That general fund draw this year is $6.7 million, up from $5.1 million for 2009.

“Please note that due to variation in equalization rates and revaluations, the actual rate used to calculate taxes for the various jurisdictions may be different,” Miller wrote in his budget message.

Sales tax is down more than $1.5 million, or 6.9 percent, Miller said.

He said the conservative, no-growth estimate for 2009 failed to prepare the county for the loss. Sales tax recently took a positive turn, Miller said, but those receipts probably won’t meet the current below-budget projections for 2009.

This budget cycle will take a hit from increased retirement contributions required by the state for county employees, the first expenditure for the $20 million upgrade to the county’s emergency radio communication system and continued cuts by the state for programs it says the county must provide even as aid is withdrawn.

In addition, demands on the Department of Social Services, Mental Health Department and Department of Health have increased with the downturn in the economy and an unemployment rate that has passed the 10-percent mark.

Some growth helped keep the levy to its current level, but the county also made cuts in several departments, including Planning and Personnel. In addition, the county is moving toward culling its fleet and developing a central garage and comprehensive fleet management program.

When delivering his budget message on the first day of annual session Nov. 9, Miller reported that he believes the impact of tribal sales on county sales tax receipts exceeds the $5 million estimate the county has been relying on for several years.

“Property and sales tax losses from tribe-owned lands and businesses could reduce the burden on county taxpayers by nearly 20 percent,” Miller said.

Martha E. Conway is Managing Editor for the Madison County Courier. She can be reached at 315.813.0124 or by emailing Martha@m3ppublications.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/marthaeconway or become a friend on Facebook at http://facebook.com/meconway.

Levy v. Rate

The tax rate is the percentage per thousand of assessed value a property owner will pay out of his or her pocket in real property taxes; the levy is the portion of expenditures not covered by other means of revenue and having to be raised by taxes on real property.

Madison County Budget: Levy up, but Rate Down Slightly

County Budget Officer says decrease will keep tax rate about even with 2009

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