Supervisors Pass 2023 County Budget

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the 2023 budget on Monday, March 28 following a 9:30 a.m. public hearing and discussion of the proposed numbers.
The discussion of budget numbers touched on the historical maximum tax levy rates, which will remain constant at 8.64 per thousand for the third consecutive year in 2023, the $3.8 million in funding for the American Rescue Plan Act in county in 2022 and 2023, and the zero debt currently held by the county.
Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines said, “Winneshiek County department heads consistently make fiscally responsible budget requests to the

Board of Supervisors. This allows the board to set budgets consistently with reasonable and responsible levy rates. Aside from additional funding associated with the American Rescue Plan Act and county courthouse repairs, the county’s FY23 budget incorporates increases for inflation and the cost of living, but no other changes. major in expenses or income.
The supervisor’s budget included an increase in essential services, noting an increase of $709,963 (average annual increase of 13.09% over the past two years) for law enforcement and forensic services, as well as a increase of $347,821 (average annual increase of 18.81% over the past two years). ) going towards public health for the prevention and control of communicable diseases and services for the elderly, the administration of the veterans program and other social services.
With the enactment of SF 619 legislation last year, funding for mental health, ID and DD at the county level fell to zero in the enacted budget, as funding is now allocated by the Iowa General Fund at the State Level.
Of note in the new budget, property valuations increased for the new budget year by 2.57% countywide ($1,369,948,742) and 1.77% for rural values ​​($870). $645,093). These increases represent a cumulative increase of 2.06% from countywide 2020 values ​​and a decrease of 0.1% from rural 2020 values.
Agency funding requests remained mostly consistent with previous years, with changes noted: the Retired Senior Volunteer Program received $8,000, up $2,000 from 2022, and the Winneshiek County Fair received $7,500 for the fair, land and building, up $5,000 in total from previous years. The Winneshiek County Library Association received a 1.64% increase, totaling $169,217 for 2023, and Winneshiek County Development and Tourism was funded at $85,000, up from $15,000 against the 2022 budget. And for the first year, Safe Routes to School received $3,495 in allocated funds.
Total budgeted funding for external organizations represented a 2.6% increase over 2022 funding. The total enacted budget projects $28,484,207 in revenue and $29,969,447 in expenses for the year.