Benton County proposes 4.98% levy increase, outlines nearly $70 million 2025 budget at truth‑in‑taxation hearing

Benton County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 3 in Foley for a truth‑in‑taxation public meeting to review the county’s proposed 2025 budget and levy. County staff presented a proposed levy increase of 4.98 percent, a proposed levy of $24,900,000 and an operating budget of roughly $70 million, then took public questions.

County staff summarized the budget and told residents the statutes require a public hearing but do not prescribe specific content. “The purpose of tonight's truth and taxation meeting is to discuss the proposed budget and levy,” the presenter said. The staff presentation emphasized that employee compensation and benefits are the largest drivers of the levy increase and outlined a very large 2025 road program that staff and commissioners said will be funded primarily with federal and state grants, the county’s local option sales tax and the county’s wheelage revenue rather than levy dollars.

Why it matters: the levy increase sets the property tax portion of county revenues that support day‑to‑day services and staffing. County officials said the proposed 2025 spending package prioritizes capital work on roads while continuing core human‑services and public‑safety programs.

Major figures and drivers - Proposed levy increase: 4.98 percent; proposed levy amount: $24,900,000 (staff presentation). - Operating budget: “almost $70,000,000,” per staff. - Staff said tax capacity is projected to fall slightly (about 0.7 percent for payable 2025), producing a modest rise in the county tax rate from 44 to 46.5 as presented by staff (the presentation did not specify units for those rate numbers). - The county highlighted a very large 2025 road program financed mostly with federal and state resources plus the county’s local option sales tax and wheelage receipts; staff said no levy dollars are being used for the road program itself. - Compensation: a 2.5 percent general wage increase is included for 2025 and the staff noted most employees also receive step increases (average 3.2 percent), which together are the largest single cost driver. - Human services: staff said human‑services revenue (federal and state reimbursements) accounts for roughly $10,000,000 or about 40 percent of the county’s funding for those programs; the county said many new human‑services positions are fully grant‑funded and would not increase the levy. - Other items noted in the presentation: increased use of the East Central Regional Juvenile Detention Facility; added charges from the Department of Corrections for central‑office support; addition of a more comprehensive dental benefit for county employees.

New positions and staffing changes County staff told the board the budget includes several new or adjusted positions: two detention officers (as part of a staffing plan the sheriff requested), an environmental technician/ditch inspector, and several human‑services positions driven by caseloads. To limit the number of new jail positions, staff described a compromise move toward a five‑post staffing model and the elimination of two part‑time positions; commissioners also asked the sheriff to shift a crew‑leader into jail coverage when needed.

Public comments and board discussion Two members of the public spoke during the open forum portion of the hearing. - Lehi Cashmitter of Foley (listed address provided at the podium) said he and other farmers are concerned about rising county taxes and urged the board to consider agriculture when setting the budget. “I’m very concerned,” Cashmitter said, asking the board to “keep in mind when we’re setting our budget, what do we have to do to keep our number 1 industry alive?” - Daniel Dahl of Foley asked whether the levy increases were steady year to year. Staff and commissioners directed Dahl to the levy history in the packet and noted the county’s 10‑year average levy change is about 2.7 percent, while recent single‑year increases have been higher and driven largely by compensation costs.

Officials also described county‑level fiscal context: local option sales tax revenue (the county cited about $4,300,000) is dedicated to roads; Local Government Aid (LGA) is a smaller portion of the county’s revenue pie (about 5 percent); and debt service has been reduced to roughly 1 percent of the total budget, with one remaining bond that staff said will be retired in about four years. Staff and commissioners also described the county’s use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to invest in broadband and city infrastructure rather than placing those dollars into general revenue loss.

Where to find details and next steps Staff said the county’s detailed line‑item budget and the presentation materials are posted on the Benton County website and available for public review. The board did not finalize the levy during the hearing; further board action is required before the levy becomes final.