Polk County approves a $358 million budget with no change to the property tax levy
Polk County this week approved a $358 million budget for the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
The budget comes with no change to the property tax levy, which for urban residents will remain $6.77 per $1,000 of taxable valuation and for rural residents, $11.32. But because assessed values have risen, the county has more dollars to spend than last year and homeowners' property tax bills likely will rise, depending on final tax levies from cities and school districts.
Notable changes include an 8% increase to the public safety budget and a 38% increase to the government services budget, according to the Polk County FY 23/24 certified budget. Meanwhile, the county reduced spending on administration by 49% and the environment and education budget by 31%.
The county will fund new initiatives, including an estimated $5.2 million sobering center for mental health and substance abuse treatment and a welcome center, a one-stop location for immigrants and refugees to access basic services, such as job training, language classes and child care. Both will share a building at 1914 Carpenter Ave.
The county also plans to invest in energy efficiency projects such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations, and wants to hire a few new positions: witness liaison for the county attorney's office; communications and dispatcher for the Polk County Sheriff's Office; a disaster resiliency staff member who will focus on recovery after disasters; and a civil engineer for the sanitary sewer department, according to deputy county administrator Sarah Boese.
The budget approved last year, which remains in effect until June 30, was originally estimated to be $317 million but reached $422 million after the county approved spending American Rescue Plan Act funding, emergency rent assistance and had a carryover of capital projects, Boese said.
More: A look at what's in Des Moines' $990 million budget, including new public safety equity role
State lawmakers' last-minute change leaves $4.8 million hole
Polk County was left with a shortfall of about $4.8 million in this year's budget after Iowa lawmakers in February passed Senate File 181 to correct a state property tax calculation error that would have put residents on the hook for millions of extra dollars in payments.
To make up for the gap, the county drew down fund balances and went back to issuing bonds for long-standing municipal housing projects with programs such as Neighborhoods Finance Corporation, Urbandale neighborhood revitalization program, the county's Housing Trust Fund, and the Historic West Des Moines Housing Fund, Boese said.
"There's growth in our budget based on the increase in property values, but the tax rate has not gone up," said county administrator John Norris. "And so every year we see how much of that growth we (can) spend. This year we didn't have near as much because we lost that $4.8 million."
At the board of supervisors meeting Tuesday, supervisor Robert Brownell applauded county staff for weathering through the "surprise" from the state.
"It was good we were able to absorb that," he said.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Polk County approves $358 million budget; keeps levy rate the same
