2016-2017 county budget is approved

The Winneshiek County Board has unanimously approved a 2016-2017 county budget.

Under the budget, spending would increase to $25.6 million next year from $23.1 million this year.  But net property tax collection will go up only $500,000 because a significant part of the spending increase involves the purchase of the Neste Valley property from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, for which grants and donations will pay a significant share.

The budget also includes six percent salary increases for the county's elected officials--excluding supervisors.  Supervisor Dean Thompson says he's "comfortable" with those figures because of a consultant's study which showed the wages were lower than those paid in comparable Iowa counties.  A previous vote by supervisors lowered their own salary increases to four percent.

Supervisor Mark Kuhn praised the "collaborative effort" of supervisors in putting together the budget.  The spending plan will result in a city property tax levy of $6.39 per $1,000 of assessed valuation--a two cent drop--and a rural property tax levy of $8.34 per $1,000 of assessed valuation--a 16 cent drop.

At a public hearing at noon Monday, there were no public comments about the budget, just a few questions.