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Posted: 8/18/04
County outlines proposed 2005 budget
The proposed budget for 2005 is under review by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The county board reviewed the proposed taxing and spending plan with staff at its Aug. 10 meeting. ěThe proposed 2005 budget reflects a very modest increase, primarily due to inflationary increases,î said Molly OíRourke, deputy administrator. She said expenditures will increase by 1.48 percent or $142.3 million while the gross tax levy will increase 5.5 percent to $74 million due to the loss of intergovernmental revenue. The net tax levy will remain just under 5.5 percent at 5.48 percent ($66.5 million). Non-levy revenues will decrease 3.88 percent to $67.3 million. She said several variables affected the development of the budget, including the district court takeover by the state, continued mandates and cost shifts from the state to local units of government, population and parcel growth, and the impact of growth on the demand for additional services, such as roads, libraries, courts, health and social services. For the first time, she said, the county will be more dependent on the levy than all other sources of revenue. Washington Countyís tax rate will decrease again in 2005 from 31.2 percent to 28.6 under the plan. The board will set the proposed tax levy Tuesday, Sept. 14, and conduct budget workshops Sept. 14-28.
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