Warren County adopts tax and sanitary district rates; board debates school, public safety priorities

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved the county and sanitary district tax rates as presented during its April 1 meeting, voting to adopt rates the county finance staff had modeled in advance of a pending budget process.

County staff and the finance director discussed reassessment impacts and projected revenue, noting a previously reported shortfall in personal property tax revenue. Staff described modeling that showed the board could set a lower tax rate than the current rate while still meeting budget parameters; staff also said the rate chosen did not require a public hearing under state rules if the board equalized assessments.

Supervisors discussed priorities for the coming budget cycle, repeatedly citing public safety (sheriff and fire and rescue staffing), school funding, and capital projects. Several supervisors urged that reading specialists and instructional assistants remain funded in the schools. Others urged fiscal restraint and asked departments to "sharpen pencils" on budgets that showed double-digit increases.

The board approved the motion to adopt the tax rates and rates of charge for county and sanitary districts by roll call. After the vote the chairman and staff said staff would prepare specific funding scenarios showing the incremental effect of 1 percent, 2 percent and larger changes so the board could prioritize requests from departments and the school division.

Finance staff noted that sanitary-district matters that change rates would be handled at separate public hearings; the current action adopted rates that were not rising at this meeting.