Tax increase for 2017 approved

Shawano County Board members on Wednesday approved a 2017 county budget that trims spending while increasing property taxes.

The budget, approved on a 25-1 vote, will increase property tax collections countywide from $15,400,972 this year to $15,545,534 next year.

It will be the third consecutive year that property taxes have gone up for county government.

Overall spending in the 2017 budget, however, decreases about 2 percent from $51.8 million to $50.9 million for county services, including law enforcement, highway maintenance, parks and recreation, public health and land conservation.

County Board members applauded the efforts of county staff in putting together the yearly spending plan.

Supervisor Thomas Kautza urged his colleagues to approve the budget, saying that the property tax increase of $144,562 was relatively small.

“It’s foolish not to go forward,” Kautza said.

Supervisor Deb Noffke, who cast the only vote against the budget, did not explain her opposition.

Under the plan, the property tax rate for county government next year will increase by one cent, from $5.28 to $5.29 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. That means the owner of a typical $100,000 property will contribute $1 more to county government, up from $528 to $529.

County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller presented the spending plan to board members Wednesday, and a public hearing drew no comments from area residents.

Board members congratulated Miller and his staff for their work, especially considering that a key staff member resigned along the way. Deputy finance director Darcy Smith left in mid-September to take a new job as Oneida County’s finance director.

County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann and others noted that Miller and his staff completed the 315-page budget under challenging circumstances.

“They did an exemplary job,” Supervisor Robert Krause said.