{"id":178,"date":"2018-10-16T16:54:26","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T21:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.uww.edu\/thecapstone\/?p=178"},"modified":"2018-10-16T16:54:26","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T21:54:26","slug":"county-tax-rate-lower-revenue-will-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uww.edu\/thecapstone\/2018\/10\/16\/county-tax-rate-lower-revenue-will-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"County tax rate lower; revenue will rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JAMES KATES<\/strong> \/ Capstone Editor<\/p>\n

The robust real-estate market in Jefferson County is pushing property values up, meaning that the county can lower its tax rate while still managing to collect a bit more in tax revenue.<\/p>\n

The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got its first look at the proposed county budget for 2019. The county\u2019s total tax levy will be about $29,650,000, up about $325,000 from 2018.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s tax rate will fall by 16 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation, about a 4 percent drop from 2018.<\/p>\n

After peaking at 4.392 mills in 2015, the proposed countywide tax rate for 2019 is 3.991 mills, meaning that the county property tax on a home assessed at $150,000 would be $598.65.<\/p>\n

Overall, the county is looking at spending just over $81 million, as compared with $72.3 million this year. That sharp increase comes from several one-time projects funded mostly by state and federal dollars.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s only debt is $14.2 million remaining on the new highway shop on County Highway W on the outskirts of Jefferson.<\/p>\n

\u201cStructurally, we\u2019re in pretty good shape,\u201d County Board Chair Jim Schroeder told reporters before the meeting.<\/p>\n

Some counties take on debt to pay for road maintenance, \u201cbut that\u2019s a death spiral,\u201d Schroeder added. \u201cWe could have gone on a spending spree, but we haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Special items proposed for 2019 include road work on County Highways A and B, improvements to the law-enforcement and emergency communication system, recreation trail construction and reclamation of the old highway shop site off Puerner Street in Jefferson for new development.<\/p>\n

The county hopes to collect $6.325 million on its 0.5 percent sales tax in 2019, possibly more if the economy keeps humming and residents have discretionary income, County Administrator Ben Wehmeier said.<\/p>\n

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at the County Board\u2019s meeting Oct. 23 at the courthouse, beginning at 7 p.m. The full budget document is available at the county\u2019s Web site, www.jeffersoncountywi.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, supervisors may propose budget amendments in writing or at meetings. Final approval of the budget is slated for the County Board meeting on Nov. 13.<\/p>\n

In other action Tuesday:<\/p>\n