March 28, 2024

Union County budget

The Union County budget for fiscal year 2019-20 includes a 1% increase in property tax rates. The budget sets a levy at $13.42 per $1,000 of valuation in rural areas and $9.62 per $1,000 valuation in urban areas.

The total expected revenue for FY19 is $11.9 million, which is an increase of $1 million from the fiscal year 2018/2019 budget, but a decrease from $20.8 million in the reestimated FY18 revenue. This decrease in revenue is due to the difference in long-term debt proceeds listed at $0 in each year’s budget versus $9 million in reestimated FY2018 revenue.

Budget rundown

Administrative costs rose 12% for the FY19 budget. This is partially due to a 4% raise in wages for the supervisors, county attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer and sheriff. Increases in health insurance costs, vendor increases, and hardware and software maintenance also affected this budget item.

The largest increase in the county budget is in capital projects. This is due in part to the emergency communication system that is in the process of being built.

Total estimated expenditures for FY19 are $17.3 million. This leaves a $6 million shortfall that is expected to be covered by the reserve fund balance, which has been built up from $5 million to $10 million through a bond over the last year in anticipation of the current capital projects.

The FY19 budget is available from the Union County Auditor’s office or Iowa Department of Management at https://tinyurl.com/countybudgets.