By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

The Pope County Board of Commissioners tentatively set the 2024 preliminary budget and property tax levy at this week’s board meeting. The levy increase agreed upon unanimously for 2024 is 7.9 percent. The total levy at that rate is $10,678,472. At that rate, the county fund balance will experience a decrease of just over $1 million.  The preliminary budget, the levy can go down, but it cannot increase as the numbers are finalized. 

The Truth in Taxation hearing was set for Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. with an alternate date of December 7 in case of conflicting dates. 

The Pope County Drainage Authority annual drainage hearing date was set for October 17. The hearing will have discussion of current drainage matters and will set drainage assessments for 2024.

Jessica Peterson from Horizon Public Health was on hand at the meeting to discuss an update to the fee schedule for food establishments, pools and lodging in Pope County. “Our program is supported 100 percent by the fees,” stated Peterson. The last adjustment HPH has had a change in fees was in 2021 during the pandemic where the fees were decreased by 25 percent. 

The current base fee for all establishments except private vacation home rentals and special events is $250 and was approved to increase to $275. Private vacation home rental fees will be based on the number of bedrooms in the home and will range from $300-$500.

An extension of the local comprehensive water management plan process for the Chippewa River Watershed was brought forth at the meeting. This extension allows for more time on the planning process for the next iteration of the county’s water plan due to the need for more time from the Chippewa watershed specifically. The board passed the extension unanimously.

Starting this year, counties receive funds for voting operations, technology and election resources. The funds are distributed to counties, absentee voting administrator and townships/cities. The county receives 50 percent, 25 goes to those administering absentee voting and the last 25 percent goes to townships and cities in proportion to their registered voters. The total amount received to the counties is less than $5,000. “It’s time consuming to distribute these small amounts to townships and cities and then make sure they report back to us by the 15th of December so we can report all of their and our information back to the state,” stated Stephanie Rust, County Auditor/Treasurer. The lowest entity receives $2.99 due to the number of voters registered there and the numbers don’t get that much bigger. 

A proposed TIF district was presented for office building redevelopment in the city of Glenwood. A public hearing regarding the TIF will be held October 10. Zavadil Limited Partnership owns the two primary office buildings in downtown Glenwood which are leased by American Solutions for Business. A renovation of the two buildings has become necessary for ASB to continue to grow. 

The board also approved the proposed preliminary levy for the Pope County HRA/EDA Board. The total amount proposed is $480,000 or nine percent.

The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners will be held on October 3 at 9 a.m. in the third floor meeting room of the courthouse.