County budget hearings set next week

McCOOK, Neb. -- Department heads have offered some cuts, but more will have to be made to bring the Red Willow County budget increase in under the state-mandated lid.

County commissioners set budget hearings at their next meeting, Monday Aug. 17, for the sheriff office, jail, county fair, county health and extension office. The agenda is also expected to include discussion of Dan Miller, CPA, who is contracted to help create the budget. Last week, Miller told commissioners some $800,000 would need to be found to keep the budget under a total of 3.5% increase allowed by law.

Earlier in this week's meeting, commissioners agreed to reduce valuations on a building owned by Douglas Smith in rural Red Willow County. He protested the $80,000 valuation placed on a new building, which he said cost only $43,000 to build. After County Assessor Kristi Korell noted that it was mistakenly assessed as having a concrete floor -- it has a dirt floor -- and its conditions was listed as "Average Plus" rather than the usual "Average," the board agreed to reduce the valuation to $50,000. Smith, who had left the meeting by then, has 30 days to protest the latest valuation if he so choses.