Taxes are going up significantly next year for all Monroe County residents.
The Monroe County Commissioners approved next year’s budget at a special meeting this morning. Residents can expect an over 37 percent tax increase.
And we’re told another reassessment is necessary as property values have gone up proportionally.
"All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries."
The Monroe County Commissioners adopted the 2025 budget today in the amount of over 147 million dollars. It carries a tax increase of one point five mils.
Monroe County Commissioners Chairman John Christy says, "The value of your house, if it’s at $100,000 it would be a $150 increase."
We’re told last year was the first time taxes were raised in 12 years and the half a mil wasn’t enough.
Monroe County Commissioner Sharon Laverdure says, "All our employees, they need a raise. We needed to look at our salary chart. We needed to do something different with that. That’s been many years that that hasn’t been done."
The budget also includes 87 million dollars for the general fund.
Christy says, "Able now to put some money back into the general fund. We have been taking money out of the general fund, I want to say for the past 12 years so we’re trying to right the ship and steer it in the correct direction."
Some residents in attendance say it’s too much at one time. Others question changes in spending habits. But the verdict is out whether or not higher taxes are necessary.
Polk Township Resident Janet Dooner says, "I think that’s the bottom line of why I go to meetings, is I want to learn more and I hope more people in the community take that opportunity to learn more, why their taxes keep going up."
The commissioners blame in part the state’s Common Level Ratio being against the county, which measures how the county’s base year assessments compare with current real estate market valuation. Back in 2019, after the reassessment, it was at 100 percent. That has since gone down to 50.1 percent. The chairman says commercial properties haven’t been paying their fair share and now everyone is forced to make up the difference.
Christy says, "If my value is 100 million dollars, it’s now worth 500 thousand dollars so I’m not paying tax on the million dollars, I’m paying tax on the 500 thousand."
The commissioners say the only way to correct it is another reassessment which they are currently looking into in Monroe County.