Sioux County adopts 2017–18 budget, sets $1.02 million property tax request

The Sioux County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2017–2018 county budget at a Sept. 1, 2017 public hearing and meeting in Harrison.

The board voted unanimously to approve the budget prepared by the county’s budget-making authority, certifying a Property Tax Request of $1,020,000 and a proposed tax rate of .152051. Commissioner J.W. Geiser moved to approve the budget and Hal Downer seconded; the motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The adoption followed a formally noticed public hearing at which no members of the public offered comment. The resolution of adoption authorizes offices, departments and activities to expend amounts appropriated for the July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 fiscal year and specifies that income to finance appropriations will come from unencumbered cash balances, revenues other than taxation, and tax levy requirements.

The board also approved an additional one percent increase in the base limitation of restricted funds as part of the budget action. Commissioners said the decision reflected recent cost pressures including health-insurance premiums and capital needs discussed during earlier budget workshops.

Why it matters: the certified property tax request and rate establish the county’s portion of the local tax burden for the 2017–2018 fiscal year and provide spending authority for routine services and capital projects the board prioritized in budget hearings. The board set the budget after a process of departmental reports and workshops earlier in the year.

What’s next: the budget is now the county’s official spending plan for the year beginning July 1, 2017. Commissioners said they will monitor spending and any required mid-year adjustments at future meetings.