Pratt County commissioners debate mill-levy options ahead of budget hearing; routine motions carried

Pratt County commissioners discussed options to reduce the county mill levy ahead of the budget hearing and approved a slate of routine procedural items, the meeting record shows.

Speaker 1 summarized the county's options for the general mill levy and associated carryover projections. At the current 65.8 mills, Speaker 1 said the projected cash carryover would be $1,123,102. Reducing the levy by one mill to 64.8 would lower the projected carryover to $936,087, and reducing it by roughly 2 mills to an amount spoken as 63.851 would yield a projected carryover of $753,450. Speaker 1 said he favored a 2-mill reduction but noted the commission must choose a levy before the budget hearing so the budget certificate can be prepared.

Colleagues discussed how replacement & rehabilitation (R&R) levy calculations and property devaluation had affected mill computations. Speaker 2 noted the R&R figure rose from about 58 to about 62 and emphasized that the mill one over R&R is the controlling factor.

On procedural matters, Speaker 4 moved to approve the minutes from Aug. 5, 2024; the motion passed on voice vote. The commission approved payment of vouchers after Speaker 1 moved and a colleague seconded. Speaker 2 requested an attorney-client executive session to discuss a petition filed on Friday; the commission entered a roughly seven-minute executive session under attorney-client privilege and later returned with no action recorded. The commission also entered a 10-minute executive session for non-elected personnel; upon return there was no action taken.

Speaker 1 reminded the group that ballot canvassing is scheduled for Monday at 1:00 p.m. on the 19th and confirmed the commission's regular meeting schedule.

The meeting concluded when Speaker 1 moved to adjourn and Speaker 4 seconded; the motion carried.