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County adopts 2008 budget, sets levy
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Wednesday, 19 December 2007
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Completing a budget process which began in mid-April, the Washington County Board of Commissioners last week adopted the 2008 budget and certified property tax levies for Washington County, the Regional Rail Authority and the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The 2008 adjusted county levy of $81.1 million is a 6.9 percent increase over the 2007 levy. The 2008 levy for the HRA is $3.15 million and the 2008 levy for Regional Rail Authority is $245,300. The $81.1 million county levy will still allow Washington County residents to pay one of the lowest property tax rates in the state. Much of the increase on the county levy can be attributed to costs related to opening new county service centers in Forest Lake and Cottage Grove, the new Hardwood Creek Branch Library in Forest Lake, funding for the 800 MHZ emergency radio system, and the expected summer opening of Big Marine Park. The budget also includes costs related to road projects in Afton, Bayport, Cottage Grove, Grant, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Stillwater, Stillwater Township and Woodbury. Of every property tax dollar paid by Washington County residents, about 24 cents goes to fund county services. More about the budget process can be found at www.co.washington.mn.us.
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