County proposes 3% property tax increase
Staff writer
Marion County Commissioners proposed a budget Monday of $8,026,767 for 2014.
Final adoption of a budget and tax levy will be Aug. 19, after a public hearing at 9 a.m. publicized in an official budget notice in this week’s newspaper.
If adopted, the budget would increase taxes 3 percent to $676 on a typical home valued at $85,000.
Road and bridge makes up the largest single expenditure of the county.
The road and bridge, special bridge, and special road and bridge line items are $3,121,145 combined.
“What we saved in one department, we couldn’t in another,” Commissioner Dan Holub said. “We couldn’t get away from fuel for asphalt and gravel.”
Commissioners also granted County Appraiser Cindy Magill permission to purchase a 2007 Chevy Silverado to replace an aging Ford Crown Victoria.
“Do you want to drive in a car that smells like rat poop and dead rats?” Magill asked.