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Grant County commissioners approve slate of preliminary 2025 budgets; consolidated mill levy up 1.17 mills
Summary
Grant County commissioners unanimously approved a series of preliminary 2025 departmental and fund budgets and heard Auditor Sara Meier report a 1.17‑mill increase in the consolidated mill levy, an estimated $20,477.51 countywide at current valuations; final mill levy awaits state action.
Grant County commissioners unanimously approved preliminary budgets across departments and funds during a budget hearing that opened Sept. 11, 2024, and closed at 12:34 p.m.
Auditor Sara Meier reviewed estimated mill levies used to prepare the county’s estimated tax statements and said the county consolidated mill levy — which combines the general fund levy with levies for services such as the state medical levy, road and bridge, health district and others — increased by 1.17 mills from 2023 to 2024. At current taxable values Meier estimated that increase would generate an additional $20,477.51 in property taxes countywide; she said the county general mill levy will be finalized after the state board of equalization issues its decision.
On a series of roll‑call votes, each motion carried unanimously (Commissioners Alton Zenker, Al Roy Hochhalter and Marty Meyer voting aye). Notable preliminary approvals included $173,039.96 for the County Auditor/Treasurer (account 4141); $686,641.67 for the County Sheriff (account 4211); $3,004,310.78 for fund 2140 (Road and Bridge); $511,500 for fund 2110 (Federal Aid Road); $133,116.75 for County Extension (fund 2960); and $84,009.71 for 911 Emergency Service (fund 2982). The agenda also recorded smaller appropriations across courts, elections, buildings and grounds, human services, fair expenditures and insurance reserves; each was approved by motion and unanimous roll call.
The meeting opened with a procedural motion to approve the agenda and a Pledge of Allegiance. Merlin Leithold and Auditor Sara Meier were present for the hearing; Meier provided the fiscal details and the commissioners completed voting on preliminary numbers. The board noted that approval of final mill levies and any adjustments to the county general levy will be addressed at a subsequent regular meeting after the state board of equalization issues its determination.
The hearing was formally closed by Chairman Alton Zenker at 12:34 p.m. The preliminary budgets approved at this hearing set department and fund targets for the county’s 2025 budget process but do not constitute final tax levies or appropriations until those subsequent formal actions.
