On Sept. 29 the five-person Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved a preliminary net property tax levy of $43.4 million for 2021. This represents a proposed 2.7% tax increase for county residents compared to the 2020 levy.
The entire preliminary budget for 2021 is $125 million.
County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein said less than half that amount is the responsibility of county residents. The additional needed funding comes from the state and federal governments for budget items such as county road maintenance and county human services.
Otter Tail County residents can comment on the proposed levy during a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Otter Tail County Government Services Center in northwest Fergus Falls. The location is on the west side of the RTC complex at 515 W Fir Ave.
By law, the county board can decrease the amount but cannot raise the increase from the 2.7% agreed to on a preliminary basis. The county board will, on Dec. 15, make a final decision.
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“Previously, the County Finance Committee met to discuss the 2021 levy, budgetary guidelines and proposed county department budgets,” Stein said.
Stein told county commissioners on Sept. 29 that the finance committee will complete additional review of the proposed 2021 tax levy and budget prior to the final approval Dec. 15.
“The county’s overall budget for 2021,” Stein said, “includes the general fund, special revenue funds and budgeted debt service.
Included in the budget for 2021 are county taxpayer funds for community services (public health, human services, probation, veterans’ services and county Extension Service), public works (highways, land and resource management and solid waste), law enforcement (including sheriff office), and internal services (administration, human resources, facilities operations, information technology, geographic information systems, emergency management and economic development).
