Miami County staff outline $4.05 million in new budget requests, warn of mill-levy effects

Lucas Mellinger, Miami County assistant county administrator and finance director, told commissioners at a study session that the county’s current fiscal picture includes an assessed valuation that produces $706,849 per mill and a current mill levy of about 34.767, which generated just over $24 million for last year’s budget. "Our current assessed valuation is $7.00 6. That means, 1 mill generates $706,849 for the county," Mellinger said.

Mellinger said the county has not yet received finalized valuation figures from the clerk (expected June 15) but is using an appraiser estimate of a 5.5% valuation increase for planning. Using that estimate he projected a revenue-neutral rate “around 33 mils.” He also warned commissioners that the county’s cash-balance choices affect the mill levy calculated on the state form: "Due to the cash balance going down, it has an effect on the tax rate," he said, explaining an example where spending down reserves increases the mills the county would have to request to maintain the same budget.

Why it matters: the state form and statutory calendar tie valuation, notice and…