WOODBURY COUNTY BUDGET TAKES SHAPE

WOODBURY COUNTY SUPERVISORS CONTINUED THEIR BUDGET PROCESS TUESDAY FOR THE 2014 FISCAL YEAR STARTING JULY 1ST.

SUPERVISORS HAVE REDUCED THE BUDGET SHORTFALL OF OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS BY ABOUT ONE-POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH THE PAST MONTH OF HEARINGS.

THE BOARD APPROVED 11 MOTIONS TUESDAY TO MOVE FUNDS TO TRY AND HOLD THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAXES.

THOSE MOVES MEAN FOR NOW THAT CITY RESIDENTS WOULD SEE A TAX INCREASE OF $13.59 PER 100-THOUSAND IN PROPERTY VALUATION FROM THE COUNTY PORTION OF THEIR TAX BILL.

STILL UNDECIDED THOUGH IS WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE A TAX INCREASE ON RURAL PROPERTY TO HELP REPAIR MANY OF THE COUNTY'S AGING BRIDGES.

COUNTY BUDGET ANALYST DENNIS BUTLER SAYS THAT PLAN TO RAISE OVER SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS MEANS RURAL RESIDENTS WOULD SEE JUST OVER A 16 PER CENT TAX INCREASE PER 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS OF PROPERTY VALUATION:



A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET WILL TAKE PLACE MARCH 12TH WITH THE FINAL BUDGET DUE TO THE STATE BY MARCH 15TH.