By Alex Paul
For The New Era
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker on Thursday, June 26, officially adopted a budget of $279,995,597 for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
The budget had previously been approved by the Budget Committee after a series of hearings in late April and early May. Members of the Budget Committee are the three commissioners, plus Kerry Johnson, chair; Rex Watkins, vice-chair and Dustin Welkers.
The 2024-25 budget was about $240.9 million.
Commissioners also adopted a tax rate of $1.2736 per $1,000 of property valuation and a Law Enforcement Levy of $2.98 per $1,000 of property valuation.
The total General Fund budget will be $57,652,602.
County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane thanked Budget Officer Michelle Hawkins, department heads and elected officials for their hard work and being good financial stewards, which he said makes the budget process easier.
Hawkins said differences between the approved budget and Tuesday’s adopted budget were changes to beginning fund balances between May and late June.
Board Chairman Nyquist thanked the volunteer community members who serve on the Budget Committee.
“We are not laying off people and we are continuing to provide services to Linn County residents,” Nyquist said. “I want to thank all of our employees, who know that every day is a budget day. We don’t get here with magical math.”
Nyquist said after the meeting that by and large, Linn County employees are fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars and he is grateful for that.
Commissioner Tucker said he is amazed that Linn County can provide a wide array of services with a $1.27 tax rate.
“Other counties have tax rates almost three times ours,” Tucker said. “We keep our county alive and going well on $1.27. It’s amazing.”
Commissioner Sprenger participated telephonically and said she appreciated the work of the Linn County Compensation Board.
After the Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Tucker called to order the 4-H and Extension Service District annual budget adoption meeting.
A 2025-26 budget of $1,010,176 and a tax rate of seven cents per $1,000 property valuation were approved.