Cass County officials warn 3% property-tax cap could create multimillion-dollar shortfall, threaten public-safety staffing

At a Cass County Commission meeting, county finance staff warned that proposed state legislation to limit property tax increases to 3% for taxing districts could leave the county with about a $4 million annual revenue shortfall under current forecasting assumptions.

Brandy Madriga, presenting a legislative outlook and five-year forecast, said county staff ran the 2025 budget through a model that applied a 3% cap to existing taxable property. "From this exercise, we have determined that a 3% cap would put the county into potential $4,000,000 a year deficit" she told commissioners. Madriga said the forecast assumes no additional full-time employees beyond those already budgeted and noted the county budget relies heavily on property tax revenue — about $57,100,000 was budgeted for 2025.

The presentation outlined how the county has kept its mill levy well below the charter maximum, reduced its mill levy as valuations rose, and relies on property tax revenue to fund core services including roads and bridges, public safety…