Madison County gave its fiscal 2018 budget a thumbs up on Wednesday.
In a 24-4 vote, the county board approved the fiscal 2018 budget as well as the property tax levy, according to a news release. In another vote, the board unanimously voted to approve $30.7 million property tax levy. The levy comes in at $1.8 million under what was approved in 2017.
According to Chairman Kurt Prenzler, taxes were at the top of the list of concerns for property owners. He added that the board worked tirelessly on the issues and in balancing the budget. The Finance Committee clocked more than 30 hours devoted to public hearings on the topic, he said.
“It wasn’t easy, but in the end it was a cooperative effort by all,” Prenzler said in the release. “We achieved both our goals — lowering property taxes and more resources for public safety.”
The budget included new funding for public safety and building maintenance positions, according to a news release. These spots are a sheriff’s deputy, four jailers, a public defender, a deputy coroner, a probation officer as well as full or part-time assistant state’s attorneys.
The levy for Veterans' Assistance Commission was increased, and the Child Advocacy Center saw a bump in funding.
The four naysayers to the budget were Gussie Glasper, Michael Holliday, Jim Dodd and Jack Minner. Ann Gorman was absent from the vote.
The bottom line for taxpayers? Less out of pocket expense.
“Taxpayers should see the county’s portion of their property tax bill drop,” Prenzler said.
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