H.C. Supervisors announce 39.598¢ decrease in levy

Howard County - There was nobody from the public at the hearing for the Fiscal 2018 budget to learn that the supervisors decreased the overall county levy by 39.598¢ per thousand of valuations.

Even with the decrease though, there is still an increase of $118,526 in taxes collected due to an increase in the property valuations for FY2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018), and that has nothing to do with the assessments just sent out. They will affect the FY2018-2019 county property taxes.

When the three supervisors, Jan McGovern, Don Burnikel and Pat Murray, look at the budget, they go off last year’s numbers. The state suggests having at least 20-25 percent of the total expenditures for the year on hand.

Auditor Julie Chapman explained that most of the property tax money received by the county is sent in during March and September, when the taxes are due. There needs to be a fund balance to pay bills from the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1, to September when most property taxes are paid.

Because of that, the supervisors look at the projected fund balances and add or subtract from them to settle on a levy.

The valuation for property in the rural areas was $410,641,706 in FY2017. It increased by $32,054,689 in FY2018 to $442,696,395. Evaluation for general areas increased in FY2018 by $35,336,975 to $595,855,033 from  FY2107’s values of $560,518,058.

Comparing FY2017 and FY2018 shows how those numbers came about.

The General Basic Fund is levied for $2,315,765 for FY2018, up $111,303 from $2,204,462 in FY2017.

The General Supplemen-tal Fund, which includes juvenile, elections, property liability insurance, workman’s comp, FICA, IPERS and health insurance, went down from $977,756 in FY2017 to $863,260 in FY2018, for a difference of $114,496.

Mental Health, which is determined by the county social services regional board, went down for FY2018 from $328,776 to $327,674.

County-wide Debt Services Fund went up $908 from $145,935 in FY2017 to $146,843 in FY2018.

All property owners in Howard County are taxed at the above rates. Those living in incorporated areas pay city taxes. Those living in rural areas are also taxed, with the FY2018 levy being $1,669,468 compared with $1,547,555 in FY2017, a difference of $121,913.

Anyone wishing to view the budget may get a copy from the Auditor’s office. The Auditor’s office is located at Howard County Courthouse in Cresco.