Upcoming budget cuts the tax levy and mill rate for second year in a row

At their meeting on November 12th , the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors adopted the county’s 2025 budget. For the second year in a row, this budget includes a reduction in both the debt levy and the mill rate. The new countywide mill rate will be $2.8049 per $1,000 of taxable value. That represents an 8.4% decrease over the prior year.

In his comments during the meeting, Finance Committee Chair Richard Jones from Waterloo stated, “I am pleased to present the 2025 budget for approval. We met the needs of our constituents, as demand increases for services we provide. The budget allows for salary and cost-of-living increases which reward our hard-working employees and help with retention and hiring. The budget is based on Jefferson County’s strategic and comprehensive plans. We accomplished all this while fixed costs continue to rise and will present concerns for future budgets. The budget has been transparent, allows all involved their say, respects the value of all programs and departments, and most importantly respects the taxpayers of Jefferson County.”

Total expenditures for all county programs are set at $109,600,674.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Jefferson County.