By MaryHelen Swanson

Twenty-one Chisago County citizens were on hand for the annual county Truth in Taxation public hearing Dec. 1.
Many were new residents in the county who were trying to get an idea of how Chisagoís tax system works.

Some of those on hand were directed to the assessorís office where their individual questions could be addressed.
Others, like Karen Dincau were asking the board to fully fund the libraries.

A Rush City resident, Donald Lind, noted that his taxes have increased so much that he canít get crop rental for what his taxes are.
Scott Braske asked where people were supposed to get the money to pay the increase in taxes when their income doesnít increase.
If on Dec. 7, the county board adopts the proposed tax levy, the county will collect $24,550,308 from the taxpayers. That is a gross levy increase from 2005 of 7.5 percent.

After state aid cuts, the actual amount is 8.3 percent more than this year.

Net tax capacity in Chisago County increased by about $6 million in 2005.

Chisago County, as administrator John Moosey noted, expects to spend $51,270,839 in 2006 for all funded areas.

Other than property taxes, revenues are expected from operation earnings, Health and Human Services earnings, highway aid and bond and state LGA funds for a total amount of $26,720,531.

As it is being explained to everyone who attends a tax hearing this year, how the property tax impacts individuals depends on three variables: the tax classification, the Estimated Market Value which is assigned by the county assessorís office and the tax valuation formula set by the state.

With changing market values, due to updating by the assessorís office, it is anticipated that a property owners taxes will increase if there is a valuation increase.

For the most part, the commissioners agree on the proposed budget and levy, but they will have to make decisions tonight as to what to do with approximately $430,000 in next yearís budget.

They have had two weeks to decide how they would like it used.

Following are some of the expenditures in the 2006 budget:

ï $3.224,896 for the Sheriff
ï $3,503,500 for the jail
ï $821,130 for environmental services/zoning
ï $1,023,456 for county attorney
ï $573,544 for court services
ï $226,906 for parks
ï $378,547 for the Heartland Express
ï $473,435 for regional library, plus $540,248 for library bonds for the three new libraries
ï $170,000 for Extension
ï $592,802 in contingency

In addition, Social Services operates on a basic $8 million budget with another $2.4 million in income maintenance.
The highway budget is at $16.3 million.

The county gets the funds to cover its expenses from property taxes, state aid and earnings, federal grants and charges for services.

Many expenditures are determined by federal and state levels of government, others by the county board.

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