County board approves 2020-2021 budget

Winneshiek County Supervisors have unanimously approved a budget for next year which calls for $28.3 million in spending.

The 2020-2021 county budget was approved Monday afternoon with no comments from the public.

Under the budget, the countywide levy will go from $6.26 per $1,000 assessed valuation this year to $6.69 per $1,000 assessed valuation next year.  The increase is due to the additional money required by the Emergency Management program in order to expand the county's 9-1-1 tower system throughout the county.  Budgets for most other county departments are "static," according to County Auditor Ben Steines.

County Board Chair John Logsdon called it a "reasonable budget."  He said the county is "trending in the right direction," with spending outside of the Emergency Management program being held the same as this year's spending.