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Senate backs option for counties to use dedicated mill levy for local health departments
Summary
Senate Bill 82 would allow counties to collect local health department funding through a dedicated mill levy (cap 0.0004) to increase transparency and stabilize funding; the measure passed and was set for third reading.
Senate Bill 82, introduced by Senator Stoll, would permit counties to fund local health departments via a dedicated mill levy (with a statutory cap of 0.0004), rather than relying solely on general-fund property-tax revenue. Sponsor argued the dedicated levy improves transparency by listing the charge separately on tax notices and provides a steadier funding source for local health services.
Senator Stoll said seven counties already use a dedicated mill levy and used a tax-notice example showing about $7 allocated to the local health department to illustrate public visibility. Senator Okerlund asked whether the county or a district sets and collects the tax; the sponsor clarified that commissioners set the levy amount (within the 0.0004 maximum) and appropriate funds for the health department.
Senators voted to place SB 82 on the third-reading calendar after a roll-call procedure recorded in the transcript (announced as 27 votes, 0 nay, 2 absent). The sponsor said the measure aims to stabilize local public-health funding and enhance public transparency on tax bills.
