County manager recommends 4-cent real-estate-rate increase to fund courthouse and school; public hearing opens

County finance staff presented the proposed fiscal-2027 real-estate tax rates and related budget rationale during a public hearing April 13.

Mr. Hathaway, county finance staff, said reassessment reduced the equalized rate to 54 cents per $100; the advertised worst-case rate was 59 cents. He recommended a 4-cent rate (58 cents) rather than the advertised 5-cent increase, using $12.5 million in capital funds to reduce the countys borrowing needs for two major capital projects: a new courthouse and an elementary school. He explained that one cent of the increase would fund operations (including firefighter positions and health-premium cost absorption) and the remaining three cents would support debt service for the two capital projects.

Hathaway said the courthouse need is driven by cramped back-office space and an inability to expand current administrative offices; moving court functions into a new facility would free space in the existing courthouse for county administration. He also explained proposed changes to employee health-insurance tiers and a modest COLA.

No public speakers were recorded during the tax-rate presentation portion of the hearing. The board did not take an adoption vote on the tax rate at this meeting; the agenda item was a public hearing and staff said additional opportunities for public comment remain before adoption.

What happens next: The tax-rate adoption remains pending. Staff recommended the 4-cent option and indicated further public comment will be accepted prior to final adoption.