Additional County Budget Hearing Set For Next Week

The Antelope County Supervisors took a look at the revamped county budget Tuesday morning and scheduled another public hearing. The proposed budget would request nearly $77,000 less in property taxes than last year.

Clerk Lisa Payne told supervisors she had a few issues balancing the county budget but assured the board that it was finished and ready to be published. 

Payne said, "The expenses for the county are just a little less than what they were all together last year."

Last year's levy was 0.147123 and is proposed to be lowered to 0.144175. The property tax request for 2014-15 was $3,833,197.53 while the proposed 2015-16 request is $3,756,291.78.

Payne explained that she left plenty of money in the budget for the purchase of a motor grader and other items. She also added $10,000 in the budget for elections as there will be at least two special elections for Elgin and Neligh, as well as the primary election in May 2016. 

Also, $50,000 was added to the budget for the road boss salary that hadn't been included in the original budget, she said.

Payne left the Extension budget at what it was proposed, even though representatives said they would work with less. She also added extra funds for several bridge projects that will be coming up. 

"Rather than cut ourselves short, I felt it was necessary to protect the county," Payne said. 

A public hearing was set for at Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. to discuss the budget before it is finalized and adopted.

If changes are made at the hearing, Payne said that will be in violation and she cannot submit the budget. However, Payne told the board it has happened before.