FARMINGTON – Despite the county budget being up more than 9 percent, Franklin County taxpayers will actually see a decrease in their tax bill.
The 2004 budget of $3,868,396 was adopted by commissioners earlier this year. That’s a 9.31 percent increase over the 2003 figure.
County residents expected that because the budget went up, so would the tax rate.
But on Tuesday morning, county clerk Julie Magoon announced that the tax rate had actually dropped 5 cents from $1.21 per $1,000 in 2003 to $1.16 per $1,000 in 2004.
That’s because of a major increase in revenue, Magoon said.
Projected revenues for 2003 were just $501,903, but Magoon expects the county to rake in a total of $707,000 in revenue this year, which helps offset taxpayers’ contributions to the budget.
The Registry of Deeds office will pull in the largest chunk of revenue, a figure of $225,000 in 2004, according to projections. That’s $60,000 more than they earned last year.
Magoon attributed the increase in revenue to a real estate boom and the sale of more records by the office.
Support of prisoners is expected to reel in $40,000 in 2004, double its take in 2003.
Photocopies will bring in $30,000 in revenue, compared to $25,000 in 2003.
The EMA office is expecting revenue of $27,000, $5,000 more than last year.
The Registry of Probate should generate $30,000 in revenue, $5,000 more than last year.
The Sheriff’s Department should bring in $15,000 in 2004, also $5,000 more than in 2003.
There is also a new category listed in the revenue column for unorganized territories administration. That will bring in $35,000.
Undesignated revenue is expected to be $200,000, double last year’s amount.
Magoon stressed that the exact amount of revenue brought in will not be known until the end of the year but that the projections figured into the budget are likely similar.
The tax commitment this year by county residents is $3,161,396. The overlay is $24,280.
Tax bills were mailed Tuesday, and must be paid by Sept 1.
Commissioners agreed to set the interest rate on bills delinquent after Nov 1. at 6.5 percent annually.
sdepoy@sunjournal.com
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