By MaryHelen Swanson

Today at 1 p.m. the county board will hold a special meeting to finalize the 2008 budget and levy.

As it stands, the county is proposing a 14 percent increase, but it is expected that will go down. In work sessions this fall, commissioners have proposed levels as low as five percent.

It was not set when the county held its truth in taxation hearing on Dec. 6.

The upside of next year's finances is that the county will receive $27,000 more in state aid.

The biggest part of the levy increase is attributed to debt.

County Administrator John Moosey explained to the roomful of people at the tax hearing that in the last few years the county has been working on road improvement, its roads having been among the poorest in the state.

The county currently has special debt for libraries and roads.

Moosey explained the reasons why peoples' taxes went up: a change in valuation, improvements to one's property, increase in county costs including 40 percent for the bond debt for roads and 60 percent for staff costs.

He noted that health insurance is increasing 18 percent and there are seven unions to negotiate with.

Most at the tax hearing were there because their individual taxes had increased significantly and they weren't liking it.

Said Linda Dahlquist of North Branch, "taxes here are outrageous" She moved here two years and didn't expect taxes to be so high.

Rich Bahnemann of Wyoming said he was "floored" with his $800 tax increase.

Dan Babbit wanted to know if the county has any plans to make itself more receptive to new businesses.

To which Commissioner Bob Gustafson replied that a lot of the reason taxes are driving business out of the county has to do with the Legislature.

But, interjected Commissioner Lynn Schultz, there are incentives and the board is working on long-range planning.

The biggest thing to watch, added Commissioner Ben Montzka, is spending.

It was Bullrush Golf Course owner's story that hit home hard.

Land value has gone down, his taxes have gone up, he is a business but he can't pick up stakes and move to Wisconsin.

He wanted to know how valuable his business was to the county and city to keep it here.

At a previous budget workshop it was noted that a single digit levy increase would be better for the taxpayers, but would probably necessitate a reduction in county staff and perhaps even services.

Check the Post Review Web site later this week for the results of the special meeting and the decision on the final tax levy.