County levy still not set

Carlton County’s Truth in Taxation Hearing was held Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. with the Transportation Building Meeting Room about three-fourths full of onlookers. No decision about the final levy on property taxes for county services was made that evening but residents did address the board.

“We as a Board make a final decision the last meeting of the year,” Commissioner Dick Brenner explained. “We may call a special meeting as has been done sometimes in the past. Each one of the Board members takes this decision seriously and knows that it directly affects the tax bill you have to pay as property owners.”

Chair Sue Zmyslony added that the board and county officials are “still working with the figures and hope to drop the increase to at least 3.9 percent.”

Factors listed in the handout that puts pressure on the 2019 County budget include the following:

• General wage increase of 3 percent;

• Health insurance increase of 10 percent;

• $105,445 for additional or changes in staffing;

• $80,000 for additional CHIPS legal services;

• $200,000 increase in projected interest income;

• $80,000 additional costs in the IT offices;

• $150,000 for additional building maintenance;

• Possible financial obligations for utility tax court judgments.