County approves levy with an increase of 4.9 percent

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final 2022 levy in the amount of $24,611,528, which is an increase of $1.1 million or 4.8 percent from 2021.

This action was taken during the December 21 meeting.

County departments developed their proposed budgets during the months of April and May. Work sessions are held between the department heads and the county commissioners during June through August. In September the board sets the preliminary levy.

Truth-in-Taxation notices are mailed to the public during November and during the months of November and December additional board work sessions are held regarding the budget. The final levy is set at the end of December.

The preliminary budget was set at 6.8 percent, representing a levy increase of $1.6 million.
According to the commissioners, all department budgets had few additional costs, with the exception of increases in the following areas that will be paid for with budget dollars:

Sheriff’s office ($700,000), Highway Dept. ($290,000), Human Services ($410,000), Auditor/Treasurer/License Bureau ($104,000), and Human Resources ($103,000). A back up generator is also needed at the Justice Center ($100,000).

With value changes of county properties, the estimated impact due to the...

To see more on this story pick up the December 30, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger or the LifeEnterprise.