La Crosse County board approves 2017 budget
Property tax rate stays steady, officials want more state funding for roads
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — La Crosse County officials approve a new budget for next year after two days of meetings and debate.
County Administrator Steve O’Malley presented his budget proposal to the county board Monday night, and the board passed the budget with a few changes to the original proposal Tuesday morning.
The board voted to hold the county’s overall tax rate steady at $3.89 per $1,000 in property value.
County supervisors also added $300,000 to the county administrator’s original proposal for road projects, but showed frustration with the lack of help they’re receiving from the state.
“In the case of the county and the roads, we’re talking safety, so it becomes a very critical issue and we continue to see the support from the state erode,” said La Crosse County Board of Supervisors Chair Tara Johnson. “It’s not the county taxpayers, especially not the county property taxpayers, who should be bearing the burden at the county level for what is a state responsibility.”
County officials say they hope talk from state and federal leaders about improving infrastructure will lead to more funding for county projects.
