The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday at the Polk County Government Center and set the final levy heading into 2024.
POLK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPT 2024 FINAL LEVY
Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting reported there was no change from the previous presentation. “There have been no changes since the public hearing last week,” said Whiting, “We had a number of people here for that mostly to discuss their assessed valuations, but that’s pretty normal. I thought we had a good turnout for that and a good discussion.”
The 2.5% percent increase in 2024 would be an increase of $672,443 in the total budget. The county is expected to see expenditures total just shy of $75 million dollars in 2024, and the net levy is set at $27.5 million.
The levy also shows the revenue breakdown for the county heading into 2024, which includes 37% ($27.5 million) of revenue coming via property taxes and the roads and bridges projects to be responsible for 24% of the revenue.
“In 2024, we will be going into an election year and also a contract negotiation year,” said Whiting, “We still have projects to finish off; today, we approved the bids to put a new roof on the Government Center. Also, staff turnover is something we’re watching closely. Seeing if people are aging out and making sure we’re staying competitive in our workforce. So there will be a lot of issues for us to deal with in 2024.”
The commissioners also reviewed the wage grid heading into 2024 for the County Administrator, Department heads, Non-Union and social services personnel. The majority of the Polk County employees are union workers and are collectively bargained, and don’t have to be revisited to another two years in terms of the wage grid.
“For all of the non-union employees and the salary people, we had the resolution that explains how they’re going to get paid,” said Whiting, “It’s the same wage grid, same COLA increases, and the same pay increases. It’s all the same.” After reviewing the wage grid and finding virtually no change, the commissioners approved the grid for the 2024 year.
The commissioners also approved the salary to be paid to them in 2024. The commissioners each will have an annual salary of $35,343, which equates to a monthly salary of $2,945.25. The final item the board approved was the scheduled meeting dates in 2024, which will remain during the first, third, and fourth Tuesdays of each month, as well as the scheduled times for Social Services meetings, which will take place on the third Tuesday of every month beginning at 9:30 a.m.
To view the full budget presentation (which shows the overview of the budget), click the images below.
