Allen County commissioners approved a 2016 spending plan that has an overall levy slightly lower than this year’s at an even 68 mills. This year’s was 68.09. A public hearing on the budget will be at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ Sept. 1 meeting.
This year’s levy may change. In late September the county will learn precise assessment of Enbridge Pipeline’s property and utility interests in the county, which are calculated by the state. The anticipation is those assessments will total about $40 million, which would propel 2016’s assessed valuation to $136.66 million, or $37 million more than this year’s. For budgeting purposes, the $136.66 million valuation was used.
A capital outlay line item of about $2.5 million was added to the general fund to take advantage of the assessment windfall, while also lowering the overall levy. Commissioners have no immediate plans for the additional revenue, though it may come in handy in 2018 when state-imposed limits are put on tax dollar collections — any above a certain level will require a referendum.
If the inflated assessment fails to materialize or does so in fractional manner, commissioners can eliminate all or part of the capital outlay fund and make whatever adjustments to the levy.
A levy of 1 mill raises $1 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. Put in perspective, a levy of 68 mills will raise $782 in taxes on a $100,000 home.
All told, the budget projects expenditures of nearly $16.4 million, including $8.225 million in the general fund.
Commissioners also appointed Patti Boyd, rural Moran, to the Reach Healthcare Foundation Community Advisory Board.
Commission makes use of assessment windfall
