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Butler County supervisors hold public hearing on proposed FY26 property tax levy
Summary
The Butler County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing March 25, 2025, where County Auditor Leslie Groen outlined levy drivers — an EMS levy, a new General Relief Director position, courthouse maintenance, salaries and property insurance — and residents asked about expense reviews and ARPA spending. The board opened and closed the hearing by unanimous voice vote.
The Butler County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed FY26 property tax levy on March 25, 2025. Chairman Rusty Eddy presided; Supervisors Wayne Dralle and Greg Barnett were present. The meeting began at 8:00 a.m. and adjourned at 8:30 a.m.
County Auditor Leslie Groen explained the published hearing notice and summarized the main items expected to influence the FY26 levy: a proposed EMS levy, the creation of a new General Relief Director position that would increase expenses in that department, courthouse maintenance needs, salary adjustments and higher property insurance costs. The auditor described these as drivers for the proposed levy but did not provide dollar amounts in the meeting record.
During the public comment portion, Lorista Ambrose of New Hartford asked how county expenses were reviewed and suggested exploring opportunities to share resources to reduce costs. John Zimmerman of Aredale questioned how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds had been spent and asked for details about planned courthouse projects. The record shows these items were raised as questions; the transcript does not record detailed responses or any immediate changes to the proposal.
Procedurally, Supervisor Wayne Dralle moved to open the public hearing; Supervisor Greg Barnett seconded, and the board approved the motion by voice vote with all ayes. After the auditor’s presentation and the public questions, Dralle moved and Barnett seconded to close the hearing and adjourn; the board again voted all ayes. The minutes record motions and unanimous approval but do not list specific vote tallies beyond “all ayes.”
The hearing record does not state specific levy rates, line-item budget amounts, or a timetable for final adoption; those details were not specified in the minutes. Next steps would typically include consideration of the final levy certification at a subsequent board meeting, but the minutes do not set or announce a date for final action.
