3. Budget hearing - Laserfiche WebLink

2007 BUDGET SUMMARY The 2007 budget is prepared with the overall millage rate at 61.00 mills a decrease of I mill from the prior year. In order to accomplish this, the General Fund mill levy has remained the same, the Human Services Fund mill levy was lowered from 19.00 mills to 18.00 (-1.00 mills), the County Road and Bridge mill levy was lowered from 10.75 mills to 10.25 (-.50 mills), and the emergency fund mill levy was added at .50 mills. Due to the projected increase in taxable valuation, actual tax dollars raised by the levy are expected to be 22 million an increase of over 1.8 million raised in 2006. The valuation for the 2006 budget was $355 million; and the projected valuation for 2007 is $395 million. Additional mills for the other county agencies are included at 20.85 mills a decrease of .50 mills from the prior year. The decrease is due to Southeast Cass Water Resource district reducing the mill rate from 4.0 mills to 3.5 mills. EMPLOYEE COlVIPENSA TION Employee salaries are budget at 17.2 million an increase of 6.3% over the projected salary expense for 2006. These increases are due to the 2.1 % grade/step table adj ustment and the 3.5% cost of living approved by the commission for January 1,2007 and the nOlmal step increases employees receive on their almiversary date of employment. The salary increases also reflect a projected 4% increase on July 1,2007 for social service employees who have reached the maximum allowed in the state merit system. Salaries for 2007, before considering new employees, total $17.2 million. Lmployee benefits for 2007 are budgeted at $5.0 million - or 9.8~'o higher than what will be spent in 2006. Health insurance is projected to increase 13% in the preliminary budget. NE\V EMPLOYEES New employees included in the budget total 9 with a total cost of $395,374. The new employees are in the following departments: States Attorney one senior attorney, Sheriff Operations promotes a C42 to a C43, Jail hire two correctional otIicers in January 2007 and four correctional officers in July 2004, Social Services two eligibility workers.