Hampshire County authorizes submission to state auditor, schedules levy hearing after levies pass

Hampshire County officials authorized staff to submit the county's proposed budget to the state auditor and publish a legal notice to lay a levy after recent ballots approved two levies, the governing body decided at a special meeting.

The presenter (S1) told the assembly that "in this case, both levies passed" and that the official canvas was not yet complete but staff planned to "run the advertisement in the paper" so the levy could be laid following the statutory notice period. The presenter also said the proposed budget had assumed the sale of the Hampshire Center; with that sale failing, staff made modest revisions but otherwise kept the budget largely as submitted by departments.

Staff member (S2) said revenues and expenditures were reviewed and adjusted to keep the budget balanced. On timing, staff said the legal advertisement will run for two weeks before the public hearing; S2 added that "everything has to be in by June 1" for state filing and that Tiffany at the auditor's office will approve the submission before the levy can be laid.

Committee member (S3) moved to "authorize the submission down to the auditor's office for approval and publication in the paper to be considered for the lay of the levy hearing in 2 weeks following that publication." Staff member (S2) seconded the motion. The assembly recorded three "aye" responses and the motion passed.

The county expects to publish the notice starting in the next scheduled paper edition, run the required two-week advertisement, and then hold the public hearing at which the levy will be formally laid. No specific hearing date was set in the record beyond the two-week publication period and the need to meet the state filing deadline of June 1.

The meeting closed after the motion and the assembly adjourned.