The Washington County Board of Commissioners certified the proposed 2007 levy on Sept. 12. The levy is the maximum amount the county can tax its residents for 2007. The board may still choose to levy less than that amount. The 2007 adjusted levy of $75.9 million is a 7.9 percent increase over the 2006 levy. Deputy County Administrator Molly OíRourke said much of that increase can be attributed to costs related to county efforts to bring services close to where many residents live and work. Two new county services centers are opening in 2007 in Cottage Grove and Forest Lake. A new, expanded library will open in Forest Lake adjacent to the new service center. The budget includes implementation of a new, more reliable metro-wide public safety radio system and major road projects in Forest Lake, Woodbury and Stillwater/Grant. The levy setting followed the boardís budget open house. The board set aside time to hear from residents regarding the budget at a point in the process when many budget decisions are still to be made. For more detailed 2007 budget information, readers are encouraged to access the ìBudget In Briefî document on the Washington County website: www.co.washington.mn.us. Final approval of the 2007 levy will come in December following the county Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 7.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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