Home 
The News 2008 County Budget Hearings - You are Invited!
The News 2008 County Budget Hearings - You are Invited!
| 2008 County Budget Hearings - You are Invited! |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Anton K Neff |
| Tuesday, 21 August 2007 16:08 |
|
As our District Two County Council member, I have information to share with you concerning County Budget Hearings.
On September 5th, 6th, and 7th the Owen County Council will be conducting annual budget hearings at the Courthouse. Here is a schedule for the first two days--the third day may not be used: 2008 County Budget Hearings Schedule - Days 1 & 2 Budget hearings are open to the public and are designed to provide an opportunity for taxpayers to voice any concerns they may have. As your County Council member representing District Two, I invite you to be a part of the process. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about the process, please ask. Our County Auditor had provided budget data to me and I created an electronic copy in PDF format of the budget requests for you. Here is a link to view all of the requests: 2008 Budget Requests Many decisions for 2008 are going to be made at these hearings based on these requests and matching them with the short-term and long-term challenges we have to address. In addition, we have to review current budget appropriations and consider the state's financial projections for our county. There are a couple of comments I want to make which may help put the process into perspective: BUDGET REQUESTS The 2008 budget requests are simply that--REQUESTS. By law, we have to advertise budget amounts in advance of the hearings. The advertised amounts are always much much higher than what is approved because it gives us maximum flexibility in addressing the demand for our services and making adjustments. So, please do not be alarmed at things that may seem very high in dollar amount. As a Council member, my duty is to review each line item carefully, establish/justify needs, and match that up with priorities on any amounts before final approval. GOVERNMENT FUNDING All county government services are funded from a variety of different revenue sources. There has been a lot of news coverage about property taxes. Depending on whether you live in the Town of Spencer or out in Washington Township, county government services only pull between 14% and 17% of each property tax dollar you pay. This is a small portion of the overall amount of property tax you pay. Here is a breakdown for 2007: District Two Property Tax Breakdown per Dollar In addition to property tax, other county revenue sources include, but are not limited to, income tax, motor vehicle taxes, service fees, 911 surcharges, interest, and state-distributed money. Thank you for your time today. Additional information about the County Council, myself, and local government can be found on this website. Please feel free to contact me with your questions/concerns. |