The Mower County Board of Commissioners Monday night held its Truth in Taxation meeting where it further cemented its tax levy and budget for 2025. Commissioners have worked this year’s levy to 4.99%, equalling an increase of $1,248,172. Its budget is sitting at $73,113,906. The increase represents a total tax impact of $2,308 on an average home in Austin of $200,000, however, that impact varies depending on where property owners are located in the county. The levy increase is a slight dip from last year’s 5.5% increase as the county met a variety of challenges to its overall budget.  Among those challenges is a negotiated 2% market rate adjustment worth $780,000 as well as what is considered its biggest challenge — a 14% increase or $3.5 million in its detention center staffing. There were also additional challenges that included decreased county program aid, an inflationary impact on purchase of equipment and three new/reallocated positions as well as using up its ARPA funding. At the same time, the county found some places that helped the process, including a savings of $775,000 resulting from a switch in health insurance planning for the county.  Added to that were internal systematic changes and the planned use of reserves equating to $3.2 million that further cut into tax levy. “I think this is one that is manageable and hopefully something we can continue forward with good fiscal management,” Board Chair John Mueller said in reference to the levy. The post Commissioners hold Truth in Taxation meeting, levy increase at 4.99% appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.