County tax levy to increase by 15 cents; Senior Service tax continues unchanged

Nobody outside of elected courthouse officials attended the Daviess County Tax Levy Hearing held on Aug. 26, which convened as required by law. But that doesn’t mean that discussion was without public interest.
During the hearing Presiding Commissioner Jim Ruse stated that sales tax revenue received countywide was up some this first half of the year, but will probably level out for the rest of the year. He also stated he saw the increases in liability, property, and health insurance premiums as the biggest strain on the county’s next budget year.
Mr. Ruse also said that Daviess County is not compliant with the Missouri auditor’s request for the general revenue to maintain a reserve balance of 125% of yearly expenditures.
Commissioner David Cox noted how expensive repairs and maintenance that need to be done to the courthouse building could be an additional strain on next year’s budget.
During the tax hearing, Daviess County Clerk Ronetta Burton read the Assessed Valuations After Board of Equalization for 2020.
The Pro Forma Summary received from the Missouri auditor’s office shows the maximum tax rate that could be levied for 2020 to be $0.3573 per $100 of assessed valuation. The maximum voted levy is $0.4000 per $100 of assessed valuation, less $0.0500 sales tax revenue. The levy for 2019 was $0.1193.
Clerk Burton also gave the commission a history of when the voluntary reductions were taken showing how the tax levy went from $0.35 to the current $0.1193. In 2007 a voluntary reduction of $0.1852 was taken; in 2008 a voluntary reduction of $0.2354 was taken; and small reductions of less than $0.01were also taken in 2009 and 2010.
Commissioner Ruse noted how a 5-cent increase in levy would bring in an additional $72,300; a 10-cent increase in levy would bring in an additional $145,000; and a 15-cent increase in levy would bring in an additional $215,000.
The maximum amount of reinstatement of the voluntary rollback would be $0.2380.
David Cox made a motion to set the 2020 tax levy at $0.2693 per $100 valuation which would be an increase from last year of $0.1500; Wayne Uthe seconded, and the motion passed, 3-0.
The official tax hearing adjourned after the 15-minute meeting. Present were Jim Ruse, David Cox and Wayne Uthe, county commissioners, Ronetta Burton, county clerk. County recorder Jane McKinsey also attended.
Prior to the county tax levy hearing, a similar meeting was officially convened for the Senior Service Tax Levy Hearing. This hearing lasted 10 minutes.
Clerk Burton officially swore in Patty Baker and Ron McNeel as two new members of the Senior Services Tax Fund Board. Present were Senior Services Tax Fund Board members Jean Fales, Loren Uthe, Linda Evans, Baker and McNeel. Also present were Commissioners David Cox and Wayne Uthe, and clerk Burton. No one from the general public attended.
Clerk Burton read the Assessed Valuations After Board of Equalization for 2020, and the Pro Forma Summary received from the Missouri auditor’s office showing the maximum tax rate that could be levied for 2020 to be $0.0498 per $100 of assessed valuation. The maximum voted levy is 5-cents per $100 of assessed valuation. There were no questions and no discussion regarding the new tax levy rate.
Linda Evans made a motion to set the 2020 tax levy at $0.0498 per $100 valuation; Ron McNeel seconded, and the motion passed, 5-0.