By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
After three days of presentations by elected officials and department heads, the Linn County Budget Committee approved a proposed budget of $299,208,722 on April 30.
The current FY 2025-2026 operating budget is $287.2 million.
The budget will not become official until formally adopted by the Linn County Board of Commissioners at a meeting in June.
Kerry Johnson chaired this year’s Budget Committee and Rex Watson was vice-chair. Fellow community member was Dustin Welters and the committee was rounded out by Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker.
In the annual Budget Message presented on day one of the hearings, it was noted that the goal was “maintaining and improving services to Linn County citizens.”
The budget was based in part on a projected property valuation growth of 3.5%, which would provide an estimated net total of $16.9 million in revenue to the General Fund and approximately $59 million for the Law Enforcement Fund, an increase of about $800,000 and $3 million over the current budget year. Other revenues are primarily from dedicated pass-through funds, such as for the Health Department and Road Department.
Personnel costs are expected to increase about 6% due to Cost of Living Adjustments in salaries as well as increases for payroll and insurance costs.
The budget reflects a decrease of 2.27 personnel for a total of 757.47 FTE staffing.
The following funds were approved by the committee:
General Fund: $57,661,254;
Road Fund: $53,606,262;
Fair Fund: $860,000;
Law Library: $347,326;
General Grants Fund: $18,827,915;
Bicycle and Pedestrian Fund: $896,076;
Corner Preservation Fund: $430,394;
Law Enforcement Levy: $58,987,584;
Historical Fund: $50,680; County Forest Park Fund: $1,561,500;
Health Fund: $97,568,588;
County School Fund: $1,966,100;
Internal Service Fund: $6,445,043.
Total: $299,208,722.
Permanent Tax Rate: $1.2736 per $1,000 of property valuation.
Law Enforcement Levy: $3.08 per $1,000 of property tax valuation.
4-H and Extension Service District
The 4-H and Extension Service District Budget Committee, chaired by Audrey Raschein, also approved its 2026-27 proposed budget. It is scheduled for adoption by the Board of Commissioners at a meeting to be held in June.
The approved budget is $967,823.
The funds will be used to pay for salaries, $390,285; other payroll expenses, $223,540; student and intermittent salaries, $25,000; and services and supplies, $102,548.
The permanent tax rate was set at seven cents per $1,000 of property tax valuation.