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Polk County administrator highlights flat-levy priority, rising health costs and 30% April sales-tax gain
Summary
County administration told the board the budget priority is a flat levy and fiscal discipline, flagged rising county health insurance claims, reported April sales-tax receipts up 30% year over year and said staff were monitoring HHS grants and Medicaid changes.
The Polk County administrator told the Board of Supervisors on May 20 that the county's budget priorities are a flat levy, fiscal discipline and maintaining the bond schedule for capital projects, and that county staff are exploring changes to health benefits as claims have been high for three consecutive years.
"Health costs are rising exponentially," the administrator said during the committee-level report and said staff presented options to bring the plan back in line with claims experience. The administrator said staff are working on options for health benefits and that projects for highways, parks and facilities are proceeding, including a grandstand project that will be put out to bid.
The administrator reported sales-tax receipts for April were up 30% from the prior year and that year-to-date collections remain about 11.2% above last year. Staff said they are monitoring federal HHS grants and pending Medicaid changes to see how they will affect Polk County funding.
On property-tax matters, staff said a delinquent property in Greenway and Turtle Lake is expected to make a final payment in August to catch up on back taxes. The administrator also reminded board members of a Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) conference in September and asked supervisors to notify staff by May 30 if they plan to attend because room blocks fill quickly.
The administrator closed by noting ongoing local events and outreach: an ATV/UTV fundraiser attendance increase from 45 machines last year to 166 this year and an upcoming mental-health task-force meeting Friday in Rice Lake.
