MADISON - Madison County leaders have approved the lowest tax levy in over a decade.
The Madison County Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2016 budget at their meeting on Wednesday. Very little had changed from when the budget was first presented to the commissioners in August. General fund expenditures will be up about 4% in 2016, but overall countywide spending is down. The overall budget has been decreased by 2.8% setting up the county with a levy of 32.8 cents. That's down over seven percent from 2015, and the lowest levy countywide since 2002.
County Commissioner Christian Ohl says it took hard work from a number of departments to get taxes lowered.
"In order to be able to get that levy down like that, we really have to make sure we're managing the budget well," said Commission Chairman Christian Ohl. "There are a number of offices that made cuts and took a look at what they could be reducing in order to get that levy down."
The County Board did not take action on a proposed two-and-a-half percent cost of living raise for county employees. Commissioners said they want to take a closer look at how best to raise wages before taking the issue back up later this month.
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