Dunn County Board approves $92.5 million budget for 2023 and a property tax levy of $24.35 million
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — The Dunn County Board has approved a budget of $92.5 million for 2023 and a property tax levy of $24.35 million.
The county board approved the 2023 budget of $92,546,752 on a voice vote with no discussion at the November 15 meeting following a public hearing on the 2023 budget during which no one from the public spoke either for or against the budget.
The property tax levy of $24,347,863 was approved on a vote of six “no” to 20 “yes.”
The total property tax levy for the 2023 budget represents an increase in the property tax levy of a little over $20,000 compared to last year’s tax levy.
The budget for 2023 of $92,546,752 compares to the 2022 budget of $96,096,017, representing a decrease in the budget of $3,549,265.
Absent from the meeting were Brian Johnson, county board supervisor from Colfax; Hilary Robinson, county board supervisor from Menomonie; and Diane Morehouse, county board supervisor from Menomonie.
Voting against the motion to approve the property tax levy were Luke Wilsey, county board supervisor from Boyceville; Patrick Breslin, county board supervisor from Boyceville; Tom Gilbert, county board supervisor from Elk Mound; Larry Bjork, county board supervisor from Menomonie; Korlee Witzel, county board supervisor from Menomonie; and Sean Breslin, county board supervisor from Menomonie.
Public comments
During public comments, Carol Breslin of Downing said she was concerned about the tax levy and the resolution to borrow up to $1 million.
Borrowing is “dangerous and ill advised,” she said.
Fuel prices are high, the cost of fertilizer is high and the increase in county debt “is distasteful,” Breslin said.
The county board has permanently approved the $750,000 in vehicle registration fees, and that amount “should have given relief” for the budget, she said.
Jim Muller of Menomonie said the county board should vote “no” on any new taxes.
Kelly Hayes of Wheeler submitted a comment online, which Andrew Mercil, county clerk, read into the record.
Hayes said she objected to Dunn County borrowing up to $1 million and that the county should “live within its means.”
In addition to being opposed to further borrowing, Hayes said she objected to the county’s legislative agenda to advocate that the state of Wisconsin increase the gasoline tax, which would be used to fund road projects throughout the state.
Mill rate
Mike Kneer, county board supervisor from Menomonie, asked about the increase in the mill rate and referenced the comments received by the county board during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Compared to 2022, the increase in the mill rate will be 3.02 percent, said Dr. Beata Haug, Dunn County’s chief financial officer.
In 2022, the county property taxes on a $150,000 house were $910.81, and in 2023, the county property taxes will be $939.15 on a $150,000 house, representing an increase of $28.34, she said.
Michael Rogers, county board supervisor from Menomonie, asked about the $3 million Dunn County borrowed in 2022 and whether that amount is in the 2023 budget.
The $3 million borrowed last year is part of the 2023 budget, Dr. Haug said.
Is the borrowing for 2023 included in the 2023 budget? Kneer asked.
“Yes,” Dr. Haug replied.
If the county board members vote “yes” on the property tax levy, they are voting to raise taxes, said Luke Wilsey, county board supervisor from Menomonie.
By the middle of 2023, Dunn County will have enough information on the budget spending to know if the county needs to borrow money, Dr. Haug said.
There is a good chance the county will not need to borrow $1 million, said Kelly McCullough, county board supervisor from Menomonie and chair of the Dunn County Board.
The resolution following the property tax levy is to borrow an amount not to exceed $1 million, said Larry Bjork, county board supervisor from Menomonie.
The $1 million is in the budget as revenue, but it is not in the tax levy, McCullough said.
In the last resolution, the county board approved a balanced budget, said Kristin Korpela, county manager.
The balanced budget includes $1 million of borrowing to balance the budget, and the property tax resolution is needed to balance the budget, she said.
By state law, municipalities are required to have a balanced budget, McCullough noted.
State law also uses a formula to establish a maximum amount that municipalities can levy for property taxes, but state law also allows municipalities to take borrowing outside of the revenue limit so that the money to pay for debt service is not part of the property tax levy.
Budget numbers
Dunn County’s budget of $92.5 million for 2023 includes:
• $5.87 million for administration, compared to the budget for 2022 of $6.87 million.
• $1.94 million for Dept. of Administration DOT, compared to the budget for 2022 of $2.77 million.
• $1.11 million for Dept. of Administration Human Resources, compared to the budget for 2022 of $1.13 million.
• $2.28 million for Dept. of Administration Information Technology, compared to the budget for 2022 of $2.14 million.
• $534,032 for Dept. of Administration Criminal Justice Council, compared to the budget for 2022 of $842,126.
• $844,783 for the child support agency, compared to the budget for 2022 of $725,401.
• $1.79 million for the circuit courts, compared to the budget for 2022 of $1.75 million.
• $646,727 for the corporation counsel’s office, compared to the budget for 2022 $505,765.
• $150,706 for the county board and committees, compared to the budget for 2022 of $149,662.
• $296,307 for the county clerk’s office, compared to the budget for 2022 of $350,495.
• $760,316 for the district attorney’s office compared to the budget for 2022 of $712,982.
• $1.55 million for emergency communications, compared to the budget for 2022 of $1.73 million.
• $2.32 million for environmental services, which includes zoning, surveying and land and water conservation, compared to the budget for 2022 of $2.72 million.
• $135,610 for external organizations, compared to the budget for 2022 of $132,300.
• $777,896 for libraries in the county, compared to the budget for 2022 of $801,786. Dunn County funds libraries in the county at 100 percent of the cost of providing services for residents who live out in the county and not in the municipality where the library is located. For example, Dunn County provides between two-thirds and three-quarters of the funding for the Colfax Public Library to account for the people who live in surrounding townships and come into Colfax to use the library.
• $214,810 for the Dunn County Fair Board compared to the 2022 budget of $219,173.
• $791,406 for the medical examiner’s office,compared to the budget for 2022 of $629,879.
• $1.61 million for the public health department, compared to the budget for 2022 of $2.26 million.
• $2.3 million for facilities operations,compared to the budget for 2022 of $2.75 million.
• $77,850 for parks operations, compared to the budget for 2022 of $108,850.
• $371,435 for the register of deeds office, compared to the budget for 2022 of $353,932.
• $8.1 million for the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, compared to the budget for 2022 of $7.4 million.
• $320,365 for the county treasurer’s office, compared to the budget for 2022 of $291,824.
• $295,775 for UW-Extension, compared to the budget for 2022 of $260,534.
• $270,623 for the veterans’ service office,compared to the budget for 2022 of $246,904.
• $5.17 million for debt service, compared to the budget for 2022 of $4.64 million.
• $17.67 million for the Dunn County Highway Department, compared to the budget for 2022 of $15.78 million.
• $50,000 for bridge petitions, compared to the budget for 2022 of $11,437. Dunn County provides some funding to municipalities for replacing culverts and bridges.
• $15.54 million for human services, compared to the budget for 2022 of $16.41 million.
• $85,000 for jail assessment, compared to the budget for 2022 of $85,000.
• $14.72 million for The Neighbors, compared to the budget for 2022 of $14.15 million.
• $580,949 for the transit commission, compared to the budget for 2022 of $1.2 million.
• $9.44 million for self-funded health insurance, compared to the budget for 2022 of $10.8 million.
• $948,212 for self-funded worker’s compensation,compared to the budget for 2022 of $1.84 million.
Tax levy
The total tax levy of $23,347,393 includes $10.8 million for the general fund expenditures; $3.8 million for the special revenue fund; $5.17 for debt service; $3.7 million for the highway fund; $50,000 for bridge aids; $777,896 for libraries; $83.55 for special charges; and $2,487 for illegal tax certificate chargebacks for town, village and city taxes.
The total tax levy of $23,347,393 on the 2023 budget compares to the total levy of $23,326,890 for the 2022 budget, representing an increase in the tax levy of $20,503.
