Limestone County commissioners propose 0.56 tax rate, approve budget transfers to cover jail food costs

Limestone County commissioners on an unspecified date proposed a 0.56 tax rate for the coming year and approved several budget amendments, including a ledger transfer of roughly $31,000 to cover increased jail food costs.

The proposal to set the tax rate at 0.56 was made during the meeting and carried after a motion and a second. "I proposed that we adopt the rate of 0.56," said Commissioner 1. Commissioners scheduled the required public hearing and additional actions at the regular meeting on Sept. 9 (time and notice as discussed). Staff said the county’s overall tax rate will be lower than the prior year even after the proposal.

The meeting also approved a ledger transfer to cover a shortfall in the jail food line after county staff reported higher food costs and special-diet purchases for inmates. A county staff member said the jail’s food costs rose about 4.7–4.8% under a year-to-year contract and that the county had to purchase special meals outside the…