Gage County adopts $11.0 million tax request, approves FY2025-26 budget

The Gage County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 17 approved the county budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and passed a companion resolution setting the 2025-26 tax request.

The board voted unanimously, 7-0, to adopt Resolution No. 25-07, approving the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and later passed Resolution No. 25-08 to set the county's tax request at a different rate than the prior year. The board also signed routine program-certification documents related to road and bridge program compliance required by state agencies.

County officials told the board the county's assessed valuation increased from about $4.2 billion in 2024 to approximately $4.892 billion in 2025. The board discussed how the mill levy fell as a result of the valuation change: the levy shown for 2024 was 0.266656 and was reported to decrease to 0.234958 for 2025. Officials said the county's property tax request increased by about $280,000 on an 11+ million dollar tax asking; the county remained well under the maximum tax-asking authority the state formula permits.

During the presentation staff explained a new state formula for levy requests that rolls valuation growth and inflation into a capped authority. The board discussed leaving unused levy authority available for future emergency use within the statutory limits.

Board members emphasized they try to keep the county's budget lean and noted the 2.47% increase in the county tax asking is below current inflation, according to staff comments. The board approved the resolutions and signatures were collected as required by state procedures.

The board also approved administrative certifications used to qualify for state road and bridge funds; those certifications confirm the county follows state standards for road work and permitting.

The adopted budget and associated documents become part of the county record and staff said necessary signatures will be gathered for submittal to state offices.