Jefferson tax levy stays same

FAIRFIELD - The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors plans to keep the general property tax levy where it is for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, at $9.425 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The supervisors set the public hearing for the budget for 9:30 a.m. March 29. If approved, the budget will grow by 2 percent, which is the most allowed by the state unless the county wants to hold a separate hearing and issue a justification as to why the increase must be more than 2 percent.

Supervisor Susie Drish said the supervisors had to make small cuts in a number of areas in order to stay within the 2 percent allowable growth.

'I'm quite pleased the board is really paying attention to the money,” Drish said.

The county's general property tax levy will remain the same for the 2021-2022 year under the proposed budget. Supervisor Daryn Hamilton said the supervisors worked hard to ensure the county could get by with the same levy as before. Though the levy won't change, the county will get slightly more revenue next year because property values continue to rise, so taxpayers will be giving all taxing entities, including the county, more money.

In other news, the supervisors canvassed the March 2 Cardinal Community School District election in which voters approved the renewal of a physical plant and equipment levy for 10 more years.