Jackson County: Tax hike OK'd

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By Sheri Melvold | Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:57 AM CDT | () comments

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Jackson County Supervisors raised county taxes by 25 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation last week, mostly for upkeep on the county courthouse.

The county’s $13.8 million budget includes a tax increase of 15 cents in the general fund and 10 cents in the rural basic fund bringing the tax levy to $5.51 per $1,000 assessed valuation for the urban areas and $8.14 per $1,000 assessed valuation for the rural areas.

The budget also includes 5 percent pay increases for elected officials. The county compensation board recommended 6 percent raises. Other county employees who are in bargaining units received between 3 and 5 percent increases.

Salaries for elected officials will be: attorney, $69,496; auditor and treasurer, $46,736; sheriff, $58,060; recorder, $46,554 (which includes an $844 stipend); supervisors $26,276; supervisor chairman, $27,425.

Supervisors set aside some money in a capital improvement fund for upgrades to the courthouse, which was built in 1959.

This year, supervisors plan to replace the original chiller in the air-conditioning system at an estimated cost of $84,000. In the courtroom, they plan to replace the curtains and do some remodeling in the judge’s chambers. A request for a new outside door to allow prisoners to be brought in as a safety measure is not in next year’s budget, but supervisors say they will consider the request.

Supervisors also set aside money to pave the Jackson County Senior Citizen Center parking lot on East Quarry and expect to receive some funding from other sources for the project.

Supervisors also agreed to hire a technical person to oversee computer operations in the courthouse.

Among cuts was $200,000 from the equipment budget for secondary roads.

“This is a bare-bones budget,” Supervisor Chairman Larry “Buck” Koos said.

The city desk can be contacted at

(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.