The Marion County Board approved its budget, but couldn’t come to an agreement on a tax levy Tuesday night after hearing complaints about rising tax valuations.
The board passed an overall $12.9-million budget for all county funds and $9.1-million in the general fund. Finance Committee Chair Chris Krupp said the budget had a $5,200 surplus before some recent changes. But the budget was relying on a five-percent increase in the tax levy.
The board first rejected a four percent increase in the property tax levy that would have raised $205,000 in additional tax revenue, but then also rejected a zero percent increase. The 4-percent levy went down in defeat 9-5 and the zero percent increase 8-6. The board then set a special meeting for next Wednesday night, December 6th, at six pm to try and reach a consensus on the levy.
The votes came after about a dozen residents voiced concerns over what one called ‘insane’ increases in property valuations and the ten-percent multiplier.
Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller fielded the questions, saying the increases were the result of extremely high sales prices. He cited one home built in the 1970’s.
“To me $85,000 and you probably agree is a reasonable price for that. It sold for $185,000 last year. And I could give you example after example and yet we can’t plan for that. I can’t take your house and say well it’s going up so I’m going to raise your assessments $75,000 this year, everybody would come unglued and I don’t blame them. But at the end of the year the State says you have to bring everything in line to 33.33% and if you don’t do it we will.”
But Miller emphasizes the ten percent multiplier does not mean a 10-percent tax increase. He notes any increases will be dictated by taxing bodies raising their levies and asking for more money.
Former Marion County Board Chair and Tonti Township Supervisor Janet Carter Sullens implored the county board to do its part.
“It’s a tough decision. I’ve been there. And when I was chairman I had my Finance Chair make cuts with the office holders. I am begging you guys to vote no and I feel like I’m speaking for many in Marion County. I respect everyone of you for what you are doing, but it’s time to start fighting for the tax payers and sharpen your pencil in my opinion.”
The owner of the Big R Farm and Home Store in Salem Paul Jones said he has 30 employees and all are already dealing with inflation and struggling.
“It’s just not sustainable. I can go on and on what it does. It just deteriorates the community in a way I have seen and my wife has seen in our business. The theft has become rampant, we all pay for that. If these taxes go through its going to do nothing but increase the problems we have.”
Several in attendance noted substantial increases in their assessed valuation and said they would sell their property right now to the county if they could get that price. Miller encouraged those who felt that way to make an appointment to come before the Board of Review.
County Board Chair Debbie Smith also encouraged those with complaints to talk to Miller on a one to one basis, noting the board could not do anything. But Board Member Brock Waggoner interupted to disagree noting the board had raised expenses 24-percent since 2022. He questioned, ‘where are we cutting?’
Later Waggoner noted the size of some of the salary increases as areas of concern.
Sheriff Kevin Cripps responded some of the increases were for the sheriff’s department which were needed to continue to provide services.
“I’m a tax payer too and I don’t want to see mine go up, so I get it and understand. But on the other hand, we have to be comparable to the surrounding agencies and counties, otherwise we are going to continue to lose. And then we have another compound problem.”
The budget includes an increase in pay for part-time correctional officers from $14 to $18 an hour, which is still $1 lower than other counties. Cripps said he is finding it extremely difficult to find help where for the same pay employees could be flipping hamburgers instead of dealing with prisoners.
Krupp added all of the pay increases were previously approved by the board.
County board members who voted against the four percent levy increase sending it to defeat were Todd Murray, Brock Waggoner, Sharon Woodward, Dr. Creighton Engel, Jack Riley, Bill Henson, Tyson McHenry, Steve Whritenour, and David Iossi.
Those voting against no increase in the levy were Woodward, Engel, Riley, Debbie Reed, Steve Bradley, Christopher Krupp, Adam Smith and Debbie Smith.
Those voting against the budget were Murray, Waggoner, McHenry and Whritenour.
Board member Judith Meek Hakim was ill and absent from the meeting.
