Linn County’s FY17 budget, which begins July 1, 2016 and runs through June 30, 2017, is available on Linn County’s website.
The budget document contains detailed information, including:
• the process Linn County uses to create the budget through a series of public meetings
• expenditures by service area
• revenue sources
• capital projects
• performance indicators by department
• and more.
Linn County’s goal is to make this information as easily understandable and as accessible as possible.
The budget was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors with no change in the countywide tax rate and an additional $0.05 decrease in the rural tax rate due to increased Local Option Sales Tax revenue. This marks the third year in a row that the countywide levy rate has not increased. The $1.48 million in property tax relief for rural residents in FY17 is equal to a 98 cent reduction.
Homeowners in cities will see no change in the county portion of their property tax bills. Rural residents will see a small decrease in their tax bills of $4 on a $100,000 home due to the Local Option Sales Tax levy rate reduction. Commercial and industrial property taxes in Linn County will remain the same as in FY16.
Linn County’s levy rate is the second lowest of the six largest urban counties in Iowa. Property taxes levied account for $63 million, or 58 percent of Linn County’s total budget.