Commissioners continue honing annual budget

McCOOK, Neb. — Hoping for the best and planning for the worst, Red Willow County Commissioners continued adjusting next year’s budget with the goal of having enough set aside while still staying within statutory limits.

Toward that end, $400,000 will be designated for general operations to keep the ending cash balance below 50% of general operations expenses as required by state law.

The budget to be approved Sept. 11 in advance of the 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18 public hearing includes $818,000 transfer from inheritance funds, which officials hope will not be needed.

Because of changes in state inheritance laws, counties should expect about a 50% reduction in funds available from inheritance taxes, CPA Dan Miller told commissioners Monday. That change will inevitably result in higher property taxes, Commissioner Randy Dean predicted. He added later that the budget calls for a modest 1.7% increase in property taxes.

The proposed budget calls for $4.363 million in property taxes, up $82,213 from last year’s $4.22 million. County valuations increased from $1.373 billion to $1.502 billion, however, a $128 million increase, allowing the levy to be reduced by $0.0172906 per $100 valuation, from $0.307765 to $0.290468.

Deputy Assessor Lori Stevens and Dann Watson of Van Diest Supply, via telephone, discussed a valuation protest with the commissioners. The company challenged a $2 million valuation on a parcel of property in McCook, asking instead for $1.5 million. Commission Chairman Ted Gans explained that the county hoped to reach a compromise of $1.7 million valuation on the property.

On a 2-0 vote, commissioners approved a contract with AKRS to provide 450 hours of use of a 5130 M John Deere tractor for $9,000 a year, or $20 an hour, for the county fairgrounds. The proposal has yet to be approved by the county fair board. Commissioner Charles Fritsche abstained because he is an AKRS employee. Other proposals involved purchasing a tractor and trading in one the county owns, but the county will retain its current tractor under the rental agreement.

Fair Manager Jiles Bowman was also given permission to sell two surplus cooling fans.

Commissioners spent time signing county inventory forms, and planned to visit the county Household Hazardous Waste facility, currently without a director, to confirm items on the list.McCOOK, Neb. — Hoping for the best and planning for the worst, Red Willow County Commissioners continued adjusting next year’s budget in hopes of having enough set aside while staying within statutory limits.

Toward that end, $400,000 will be designated for general operations to keep the ending cash balance below 50% of general operations expenses as required by state law.

The budget to be approved Sept. 11 in advance of the Sept. 18 public hearing includes $818,000 transfer from inheritance funds, which officials hope will not be needed.

Because of changes in state inheritance laws, counties should expect about a 50% reduction in funds available from inheritance taxes, CPA Dan Miller told commissioners Monday. Commissioner Randy Dean noted that change could inevitably result in higher property taxes. He added later that the budget calls for a modest 1.7% increase in property taxes.

The proposed budget calls for $4.363 million in property taxes, up $82,213 from last year’s $4.22 million. County valuations increased from $1.373 billion to $1.502 billion, however, a $128 million increase, allowing the levy to be reduced by $0.0172906 per $100 valuation, from $0.307765 to $0.290468.

Deputy Assessor Lori Stevens and Dann Watson of Van Diest Supply, via telephone, discussed a valuation protest with the commissioners. The company challenged a $2 million valuation on a parcel of property in McCook, asking instead for $1.5 million. Commission Chairman Ted Gans explained that the county hoped to reach a compromise of $1.7 million valuation on the property.

On a 2-0 vote, commissioners approved a contract with AKRS to provide 450 hours of use of a 5130 M John Deere tractor for $9,000, or $20 an hour, for the county fairgrounds. The proposal has yet to be approved by the county fair board. Commissioner Charles Fritsche abstained because he is an AKRS employee. Other proposals involved purchasing a tractor and trading in one the county owns, but the county will retain its current tractor under the rental agreement.

Fair Manager Jiles Bowman was also given permission to sell two surplus cooling fans.

Commissioners spent time signing county inventory forms and planned to visit the county Household Hazardous Waste facility, currently without a director, to confirm items on the list.