Though much of the county budget discussion this week has toyed with the notion of a property tax increase, county commissioners decided Monday not to include an allowable 3 percent increase in ambulance district taxes.
"We can adapt to the economic climate and not take the allowable 3 percent," said Commission Chair Larry Schoen.
The district's tentative budget, set at the same time as the county's tentative budget, had included a 3 percent increase in district property taxes as a budget assumption. However, Blaine County Clerk JoLynn Drage was asked to remove that 3 percent from both revenues and expenses. Expenses were cut by deferring the purchase of a new ambulance for one year.
Only county expenditures, not revenues, were tentatively approved during Monday's meeting. The county is not required to approve any revenue changes, including the debated 3 percent tax increase, until the final budget is set in September.
However, the commissioners have repeatedly stated that if the proposed Blaine Manor levy passed on Tuesday, Aug. 3, they will not take the allowable 3 percent increase in county property taxes. The levy election proposed a property tax increase to support the Blaine Manor assisted-living facility for two years.
"My No. 1 priority is to not take the 3 percent," said Commissioner Tom Bowman during a budget discussion last week.
Bowman said his decision was the result of conversations with constituents.
Schoen agreed with Bowman, saying, "We shouldn't be asking for more from the taxpayers. That's the bottom line."
To that end, Schoen said Monday that his position is that if the Blaine Manor levy is passed, he would not support any property tax increase for fiscal year 2011. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a tax increase if the levy fails.
"Even if we cut a lot of other spending, we're going to need all the help we can get," Schoen said.
The matter of employee compensation was tentatively decided Monday with the approval of the preliminary county expenditures. The commissioners set aside $80,000, slightly under 1 percent of the payroll, to be used for compensation adjustments.
This figure has been lowered from the possible 3 percent across-the-board increase that appeared in the first budget draft, and from the 2 percent that had been considered last week.
"Local and state governments have gotten into the habit of giving compensation increases," Schoen said. "We need to examine [that habit] more closely, and we need to adapt to circumstances."
A final budget will be set in early September, after the results of the Blaine Manor levy election and projected revenues are known.
Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com
What does the tentative budget include?
Changes to the budget since the first draft have been substantial. Here's what the numbers look like now:
Total expenses (excluding the ambulance district's budget): $25,792,198.
Total ambulance district budget expenses and revenue (balanced): $2,066,128.
County human resources specialist position: $66,507 in salary and benefits.
Compensation adjustment fund: $80,000 or under 1 percent of county payroll.
