Changes to the city/county dispatch center operation will have an impact on next year's county budget

Winneshiek County supervisors have scheduled a public hearing for noon Monday, March 30th, on the proposed 2020-2021 budget for the county.

The action was taken Monday at another public hearing, this one to discuss the seven percent increase in the county's property tax levy for next year.  Supervisors say the increase from $6.26 per $1,000 assessed valuation to $6.69 per $1,000--an increase of 43 cents--is a reasonable budget, given the increase of 44 cents per thousand to cover the costs of having Emergency Management take over the operation of the 9-1-1 dispatch center.

Overall, spending will be up by $225,000, or 2.2 percent, for 2020-2021, when all county spending is included and compared.  The increase in the tax levy rate is offset in part by a 3.10 percent decrease in countywide property valuations for 2020-2021.