The Dallas County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2016 budget Tuesday evening.
A hearing was held to share information with both department heads and the public. The overall levy for residents will increase by three cents per thousand dollars of valuation on July 1st.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Brad Golightly said forecasting budgets started in July of 2015 with the Supervisors and department heads, followed by meetings in August through February. He then reviewed some capital improvement projects in 2015 including repairs to the fourth floor of the courthouse and beginning of the reconstruction project turning the old care facility to turn it into a new human services campus.
Next the Supervisors went through comparison with Pottawattamie, Story, Clinton and Warren Counties, which are the four closest counties in terms of population. Dallas County’s urban levy is $3.86, compared to $8.69 in Pattawattamie and $5.68 in Story. Rural levy totals $7.81, with a rural basic levy of $3.95. That’s compared to $12.02 in Pattawatamie and Story County with $8.86.
Proposed revenues for fiscal year 2016 are $35,197,600, which compares to the budgeted fiscal year 2015 $32,447,758. Overall expenditures in 2016 are budgeted at $37,610,542, compared to budgeted fiscal year 2015 at $36,704,589.
A motion was made by Supervisor Mark Hanson to approve the budget as presented and seconded by Chairman Brad Golightly. Supervisor Kim Chapman stated that while department heads and elected officials worked hard on the budget, he cannot support a levy increase no matter how small. Chapman says toward the end of the process, Golightly asked what he expected for the budget and he said one that did not require them to increase the levy. Chapman said he feels there are some things that “probably could have been done to come up with a budget that would not have resulted in any tax levy increase.” He therefore voted no when it came to a vote.
In addition to approving the budget, the Board also approved the compensation board’s recommendation for salary increases. This too was a split vote with Supervisor Chapman voting no. He stated that the percentage increases that were recommended, are higher than he was comfortable with.
The Supervisors also shared a prioritized list of future challenges which includes space for the law enforcement center, upgrades for the communications department. addressing more needed court space, along with space for driver’s license services, the sheriff’s civil department, E-911 and dispatch services.
A copy of the presented budget figures can be found HERE.