County eyes flat valuations, wage hikes

McCOOK, Neb. — It's early in the budget process, according to Red Willow County commissioners, and numbers are "very preliminary," the county's budget preparer told them at their regular weekly meeting Monday morning.

Commissioners are tentatively considering 2 1/2 percent wage increases, and commission chairman Earl McNutt doesn't foresee much change in the county's valuation over last year.

The wage increase is "per office," which means department heads will determine, who among their office workers, deserves what percentage of a raise.

McNutt and fellow commissioners Cayla Richards and Steve Downer decided Monday morning they want to visit in-depth about possible adjustments in proposed budgets submitted by Veterans Services, the county health department and the county extension service. The hearings will be conducted during the commissioners' Aug. 12 meeting. They may need to visit with other department heads, McNutt said, because a couple budget revisions haven't been returned to commissioners yet.

Budget preparer Dan Miller told commissioners the good news in the preliminary budget is that the county's self-insurance fund has the potential of a reduced tax request, and most of the departments' increase are similar to last years', and show increase only because of salary increases.

"Building and Grounds" is up due to tuck-pointing costs authorized by commissioners in April 2018. Karr Tuckpointing of Vinton, Iowa., bid $82,602, which was the lowest of five bids, the highest being $126,798. A spokesman for Karr told commissioners at the time of the bid-letting that the firm may not be able to start the project until some time in 2019, but that it would honor its quote. The courthouse has not been tuckpointed since its construction in 1926.

McNutt said a new budget line this year is for the sheriff's K9 program, which is and will continue to be funded with donations. He explained that the state auditor recommends that the K9 program have its own budget fund, not a separate account of its own, even through it is not funded with tax money.

McNutt said he doesn't anticipate much change in the county's valuation, which was $1,265,180,204 in 2018-19; a figure down from $1,296,905,931 in 2017-18.

The county assessor will certify the 2019-2020 valuation on Aug. 20. The county's budget must be turned into state officials by Sept. 20.

In other action Monday morning, commissioners:

— On a motion/second by Richards/Downer, approved the county's 2019-2020 contribution of $1,000 to the McCook Economic Development Corp.

— Directed the county attorney to negotiate on a pending TERC (the state's Tax Equalization Review Commission) litigation case. Commissioners declined to name property owners involved in the ongoing case.

— Granted an extension of the deadline of a Homestead Exemption application, due to the property owner's health issues.