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New tax rate is 51.43 cents per $100 of valuation

POLK COUNTY—Polk County has officially adopted its new budget for fiscal year 2021-2022. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and unanimously adopted the new budget. 

The new tax rate is slightly above the revenue neutral rate following the county’s property revaluation this year of 50.45 cents per $100 of revaluation. County commissioners decided on a tax rate of 51.43 cents per $100 of valuation. 

The budget includes $26,700,213 in the general fund. 

Commissioners held a public hearing for the proposed budget at their last meeting. 

The budget includes using fund balance to balance the budget as well as American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with some expenses associated with COVID-19. 

The budget also includes a projected drop in sales tax revenue of approximately 5 percent. 

Major capital expenditures in the upcoming fiscal year include $406,000 for the sheriff’s office for new patrol vehicles, computer replacements, cameras and a walk through scanner for the courthouse; $402,600 in maintenance for roof repair at the library and maintenance building and a new generator for the law enforcement center; $138,700 in transportation for vehicles; $82,940 at the jail for ladders, protective vests and a transport vehicle; $66,000 in the solid waste enterprise fund for box bins and a new water line at the transfer station; $60,279 in public health for 2 trucks for health inspectors; $48,402 for animal control for a truck and box; $47,277 in 911 communications for workstation chairs, paging system, computers and GIS server; $36,012 in the tax department for a new truck for an appraiser, desk and computers; $30,000 in recreation for playground replacement at Gibson Park; $30,000 in human resources for recruitment software; $28,900 in EMS for computers, radios, stretcher and rail system; $21,000 to Isothermal Community College for service van/truck for maintenance at the Polk campus; $20,370 to the department of social services for office chairs, computers and furniture; $16,759 to the library for technology updates and building improvements; $8,700 to the 911 communications general fund for radios and a new computer; $6,644 to building inspections for new flooring and computers; $6,500 to elections for voting booths, signage and a desk and $6,000 to cooperative extension for audio visual equipment and kitchen updates. 

 “This budget will allow us to maintain and, in some cases, improve services for our citizens,” Polk County Manager Marche Pittman said. “I appreciate the hard work, effort and sacrifice that was put into this process by our department heads.”

Commissioner Chair Tommy Melton also read a statement thanking employees and commissioners for their hard work on the budget this year. 

The new fiscal year will begin July 1.