Geary County Commissioners have adopted the 2023 County budget with a property tax levy reduction of 10.288 mills and spending reduction of $1,109,389.
Alex Tyson, Chair, said the County remained under the revenue neutral rate. "We understand the net valuations rose and the give has to be us looking at the mill levy and how we can affect that, and how we can help the taxpayer at the end of the day."
The Commission also approved the Proposed 2023 mill levy for Fire District #1 which totaled 4.934 mills. That is a 2.668 mill increase over the revenue neutral rate which equates to an increase of $165.041 in ad valorem tax from the 2022 budget. A resolution authorizing the revenue neutral rate to be exceeded was approved.
A check with the Rural Fire Director revealed the primary reason for the increase is that employees salaries will come out of the Fire District #1 budget in 2023 instead of the county general fund.