Swift County looks to raise taxes 4.5 percent for 2016

Swift County’s net levy has been set at $9,830,278, an increase of $423,313 or 4.5 percent over 2015’s levy.

That increase reflects a continuing reduction in County Program Aid from the state, increasing employment to meet state mandates, and additional projects the county is taking on in 2016.

Swift County’s total revenues are expected to be $20.66 million in 2016 with expenses budgeted at $21.103 million, for a deficit of $444,458.

However, the county will be receiving a $121,412 loan payment for the Swift County-Benson Hospital in 2016 and a $311,739 loan payment from CNHi for a total of  $433,151. That will help keep the cash position of the county steady, County Administrator Mike Pogge-Weaver said at the annual Truth in Taxation hearing last Tuesday.

While those loan payments will help reduce the spending out of reserves in the coming year, they are still in effect a draw on county reserves since the loans to both SCBH and CNHi were made out of reserves.
However, though the county’s 2015 budget projected a $122,982 deficit it is project the year will end with a surplus of $253,728 added to reserves.

In addition to the county general levy, the board of commissioners has also approved an $87,000 levy for the Rural Development Authority (RDA,) the county’s economic development organization....
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