Greeley County commissioners adopt 2014–15 budget, set lower tax rate

The Greeley County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s 2014–2015 budget and set the county’s property tax request at $1,822,582, producing a proposed county tax rate of 0.244765, which the board recorded as lower than the prior year’s rate of 0.314546. Chairman Leo Reilly presided at a public budget hearing on Sept. 9, 2014, where commissioners reviewed departmental requests and preliminary estimates prepared with assistance from CPA Richard Martinsen.

The budget hearing opened at 1:15 p.m. and allowed public comment; commissioners debated preliminary levy allocations for local districts and reviewed requests from agencies including Region 3 Behavioral Health Services. After reviewing county official budgets and making targeted reductions, the board voted to approve exceeding the levy lid by the additional 1% growth allowed under state law and to adopt the advertised 2014–2015 budget as presented.

The changes reduce the county’s effective tax rate from the prior year. The recorded proposed tax request and rate were presented to the public during the hearing; the board closed the hearing and then adopted the budget and the differing tax request in a roll‑call vote.

Why it matters: the budget sets county spending and local levy allocations that affect municipal services, road funding and outside agencies that receive tax support. The board’s action also established the county’s formal tax request used for property tax statements and county financial planning.

What’s next: the budget adoption finalizes county spending authority for fiscal 2014–2015 and enables departments to proceed with approved expenditures and contracts; commissioners noted that specific capital outlays and transfers to the Road Fund were handled separately in later meetings.