Proposed county budget shows mill levy decrease
The Cheyenne County Commissioners held a budget hearing this afternoon, reviewing a 3.6 percent decrease in the mill levy and a 2 percent increase in the property tax request.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County Commissioners reconvened today's meeting at 1 p.m. to conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget.
The commissioners met with Jeff Jung of Rauner & Associates. He showed the total operating budget increasing from $18.985.334 in 2022 to $22,717.102 in 2023.
The budget increased almost $2 million from the actual disbursements of 2022-2023 to the proposed 2023-2024, $7,135,047 to $9,193,797. The total operating budget for 2022 was $18,985,334, and for 2023 $22,717,02,54. The property tax request for this year is up 2 percent from 2022, $6,140,030 to $6,263,500.
Valuations increased 6 percent this year, according to the budget summary, and the mill levy decreased 3.6 percent from 0.422733 to 0.407500.
Commissioner Randy Miller commended the department managers for management of their budgets.
"I think the department heads did a great job reducing spending," Miller said.
He added much of the proposed increase is related to necessary upgrades in cuber security.
"We are addressing them (cuber security needs). We are active. We didn't have a choice," Miller said.
Jung said the budget also accounts for a pass-through grant for Adams Industries and the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The joint public hearing for Sidney Schools and Leyton Schools will be at 6:05 p.m. on Sept. 18, in the Sidney School Auditorium, 1100 19th Ave. The joint public hearing for WNCC will be held 6:05 p.m. on September 20 at in the Judy Chaloupka Theatre at WNCC, 1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff.