Buffalo County adopts 2024-25 budget and sets property tax request at $26.36 million

The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners adopted the county's fiscal year 2024-25 budget and set a property tax request of $26,355,549.34 during its Sept. 24 meeting.

By Resolution 2024-43 the board adopted the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, authorizing appropriations to offices and departments and directing that income to finance those appropriations come from unencumbered cash balances, revenues other than taxation and tax levy requirements. In a companion action, Resolution 2024-45 set the property tax request at: General Fund $24,670,649.64; Veterans Fund $29,812.10; Bond Levy $1,655,087.60; total $26,355,549.34. The resolution notes the county's total assessed value changed by 7.09% from the prior year.

The board recorded that a tax rate that would levy the same dollar amount as last year would be $0.299932 per $100 of assessed value; under the proposed property tax request the county's tax rate would be $0.335479 per $100 of assessed value. Commissioners also approved a separate 1% board-authorized increase in prior year restricted funds as allowable by law.

The actions were approved by roll call vote, with Commissioners Morrow, Lynch, Higgins, Kouba, Maendele and Chairperson Ivan H. Klein voting "Aye"; Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz was absent.

The adoption follows a public hearing held Sept. 10, 2024, as noted in the record. The board also authorized petty cash funds for multiple county offices by Resolution 2024-44 and approved a Register of Deeds transfer of inactive copy accounts to county general during the same session.

The budget document and the certified property tax resolution will be forwarded to the County Clerk and other required recipients in accordance with state procedures; the record shows the certification is to be filed by Oct. 15, 2024.