Linn County approves $156.2M budget for new fiscal year

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County supervisors on Wednesday approved a $156.2 million budget for fiscal year 2022.

The spending plan maintains the current county tax levy of $6.40 per $1,000 of taxable value.

Though the tax rate remains the same, property taxes will bring in $79,5 million in the new fiscal year - 2.3 percent increase from this fiscal year.

The rural tax levy - which is in addition to the countywide rate for those living in unincorporated areas of the county - is reduced by a dollar to $2.71, thanks to an infusion of local-option sales tax dollars.

The county's local-option sales tax dollars are divided three ways: $2.7 million for road construction, $1.5 million is for conservation projects and $1.5 million for property tax relief for rural residents.

Even with no change in Linn County's countywide levy rate, homeowners could still see a 2.3 percent increase in their county property taxes due to an increase in the state's rollback, which determines what percent of a property's value can be taxed.

Commercial and industrial property taxes are unchanged, but agricultural property taxes will increase by 3 percent, due to a change in the state agricultural rollback.

'Honestly, we are in a really good position, given two crises,” Budget Director Sara Bearrows told The Gazette.

Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker said that the financial impact of COVID-19 and the Aug. 10 derecho made this year's budget challenging.

'We are proud that we have been able to be there in a time of great need and deliver critical services without having to raise the tax levy,” Walker said. 'These are tough times, but like our community, the Linn County government has found a way to persevere.”

Overall, the new budget will continue to fund the county's priorities of public health and public safety, physical and mental health, roads and transportation, and environment.

The budget includes $13 million for capital projects, a marked decrease from this year's $44 million that paid for derecho recovery, the Mental Health Access Center and completion of the new public health building.

This fiscal year's projected expenses are $195.1 million.

Linn County taxes account for around 16 percent of the overall tax bill paid by Linn County property owners, with the remaining 84 percent of property taxes going to a taxpayer's city, school district and other taxing bodies, such as Kirkwood Community College.

Additionally, the Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 in February to freeze elected officials' salaries for the upcoming fiscal year.

In this fiscal year, which ends June 30, supervisors awarded 3 percent raises to elected officials. Their salaries, which will remain the same in the new fiscal year, are:

' Supervisors, auditor, treasurer, recorder: $119,198

' Sheriff: $164,544

' Coun

ty attorney: $190,492.

The new fiscal year begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2022.

Comments: (319) 398-8255; gage.miskimen@thegazette.com