Dunn County approves $74.6 million 2015 budget and $20.9 million tax levy

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE — The Dunn County Board has approved a budget of $74.6 million for 2015, representing a 3.16 percent increase, along with a $20.9 million tax levy, representing a 2.43 percent increase.

The Dunn County Board approved the budget and tax levy following a public hearing November 12.

The 2015 budget is $2.3 million more than the 2014 budget.

The property tax levy is $497,311 more than last year’s levy.

Equalized value in the county has increased by $56.5 million, from $2.57 billion to $2.63 billion.

The mill rate represents less than a quarter of a percent increase, going from $7.96 per $1,000 of property value to $7.97 per $1,000 of property value.

The increase in the mill rate means that a $100,000 property will pay $1 more in county property taxes, noted Steve Rasmussen, county board supervisor from Boyceville and chair of the Dunn County Board.

Rasmussen cautioned county residents to remember that the county portion of their property tax bill is only part what they pay in property taxes and that the tax may increase more for the township or the village or the school district where they reside.

The levy includes $8.2 million for the general fund; $2.96 million for the special revenue fund; $2.17 million for the debt service fund; $6.8 million for the public works enterprise fund; and $759,442 for the  public libraries in the county.

The Neighbors of Dunn County (formerly known as the Dunn County Health Care Center) has an expense budget of $14.7 million for 2015 and expects to show a profit of a little over $22,000.

The Dunn County transit commission, with an expense budget of $641,851 for 2015, is expecting to show a profit of nearly $16,000.

Treasurer’s report

The Dunn County treasurer’s report for 2014 shows an ending book balance of $17.11 million on October 31.

Total disbursements from November 1, 2013, through October 31, 2014, were $116.7 million.

Uncollected taxes as of October 31 totaled $1.55 million, compared to $1.53 million last year, and $1.86 million in 2012.

The investment account balance for 2014 is $31.89 million, compared to $30.5 million in 2013 and $21.76 million in 2012.

Interest income on investments was $92,966 for 2014, compared to $34,375 for 2013 and $214,598 for 2012.

Top 10 taxpayers

Here are the top ten taxpayers in Dunn County listed in the county treasurer’s report:

• Wal-Mart — $54.36 million estimated fair market value in 2013; $1.41 million in property taxes for 2013.

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) — $26.6 million estimated fair market value in 2013; $688,657 in property taxes for 2013.

• Helegesen Real Estate II LLC — $20.44 million estimated fair market value in 2013; $528,880 in property taxes for 2013.

• Phillips Plastics — $10.95 million estimated fair market value; $283,222 in property taxes.

• Cardinal FG — $16.9 million estimated fair market value; $437,335 in property taxes.

• Mid-American Management (Ferenac; Ford) — $7.8 million estimated fair market value; $202,087 in property taxes.

• Big River Resources (ethanol plant) — $8.27 million estimated fair market value; $214,034 in property taxes.

• Conagra — $7.2 million estimated fair market value; $186,849 in property taxes.

• Chippewa Valley Warehouse — $7.48 million estimated fair market value; $193,578 in property taxes.

• GATWC LLC — $7.2 million estimated fair market value; $186,849 in property taxes.

Other business

In other business, the Dunn County Board:

• Approved a resolution establishing a new inventory of job classifications for the county, going from 174 titles under the previous classification down to 110 job classifications.

• Approved the collective bargaining labor agreement between Dunn County and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department Powers of Arrest union employees for 2015 and 2016. The estimated impact on the proposed 2015 budget is $75,000.