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Polk County adopts 2025-26 budget, sets tax rates and public safety levy
Summary
Polk County commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 25-10 to adopt the county's fiscal year 2025-26 budget, formalizing appropriations across funds, tax rates and a 49.5-cent public safety levy; several fund balance and contingency adjustments were made after the May tentative approval.
Polk County commissioners on June 25 adopted Resolution 25-10, formally approving the county's fiscal year 2025-26 budget and the tax rates included in that plan, including the county's 1.716 permanent tax rate and a 49.5-cent public safety levy.
The action, moved and seconded during the meeting and passed unanimously, finalizes appropriations for every county fund and department and incorporates a series of adjustments made since the board's tentative approval in May. Mr. Hanson, the county budget officer, told the board the resolution "includes all the appropriations included in every fund in every department" and lists the tax rates at which the county will tax the public.
Why it matters: the adopted budget sets spending authority and the levy the county will collect. The board's adoption also establishes contingency and beginning fund balances that determine what the county can spend or set aside this fiscal year.
Key changes and details: the adopted budget incorporates a $125,000 transfer from the general fund to the fair fund after the county's proposed fair levy failed; it increases appropriation authority for Behavioral Health by about $3,000,000, placing that money into contingency rather than adding staff; and it reduces planned Public Works spending from an earlier tentative level because of a lower likelihood that a state transportation proposal would provide the previously anticipated revenue. The county budget officer said the Public Works Fund retains an adequate contingency to cover expected needs for the coming year.
Commissioners noted that the adoption occurred while the state legislature was still in session and that final legislative action could affect county revenues and obligations. A commissioner emphasized that the adopted budget is a planning document and that adjustments may be necessary in coming months if state decisions change county funding or mandates.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the agenda, the minutes of June 18 and the consent calendar earlier in the meeting; each was moved, seconded and adopted unanimously. The adoption of Resolution 25-10 was moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
The board thanked county accounting and budget staff for the work preparing the documents and noted the county will produce final budget books and provide required filings to the assessor following adoption.
