Woodbury County holds public hearing on property tax levies; board receives updated budget sheet

Woodbury County opened a public hearing on proposed property tax levies and accepted an updated budget statement showing where the budget currently stands.

The chair of the meeting said property assessments are set by the county assessor’s office and that “we all we do this body does is set the levy rate,” inviting public input on the levy-setting process. The chair also described a new budget sheet placed on the podium and asked the auditor to post it on the screen for the public.

Brett Hayworth, who came to the microphone and identified himself, asked why the mailed budget statement compared current levies to a $110,000 figure rather than the $100,000 figure used in earlier years. Michelle, the county auditor, responded that “the 110 kicked in last year,” saying the comparison was intended to account for assessment increases and that the 110 represented a 10% adjustment chosen for that purpose.

The record backup discussed by staff included assumptions that, if approved, would increase EMS funding by $375,000 and leave rural rates net zero; a county staff speaker noted those assumptions were included in the backup materials but had not yet been approved and offered an updated sheet to the board.

A motion to receive the updated budget sheet was made (motion by Nelson, seconded by Binger) and recorded as passing 5-0. Following the discussion and public comments, a motion to close the public hearing was made and seconded; the meeting moved to a vote to close the hearing.

During public comment, a resident praised the board for keeping or lowering the tax levy for the past 12 years, and Dan Bridal of County Conservation thanked multiple county departments—including the sheriff’s office, county engineer, emergency management and EMTs—for their response to a recent fire, saying the incident illustrated the importance of county services when budgets are squeezed.

The auditor clarified the purpose of the public hearing, emphasizing that it is the forum for public comment for or against the budget and that the hearing itself does not include deliberation or actions beyond receiving comment and recording motions. The chair offered members of the public and press copies of the updated sheet and said the sheet will be part of the official record.

What happens next: the public hearing was moved toward closure and the board proceeded to a vote to close the hearing; no final levy adoption or further substantive decisions on the proposed levy are recorded in the transcript provided.