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County taxpayers begin paying jail debt

Oconto County residents will pay more in taxes for 2016 to help cover the cost of building a law enforcement center in Oconto. The County Board on Oct. 29 adopted its 2016 budget and established a tax levy of $17.9 million. No one from the public spoke at the budget hearing that preceded the board’s passage of the budget. The tax rate is $5.41 per $1,000 of assessed property value, up 21 cents, or 4 percent, from the 2015 rate. The increase is due to the 25-cent debt levy for the law enforcement center. According to a summary provided by Oconto County, budget highlights include the following: • $650,000 for highway department equipment purchases, which will be funded by highway retained earnings and fund balance. • $526,513 was transferred from the highway department and $493,754 from health and human services to reduce the net county tax levy. • capital projects and purchases amount to $485,000 and are funded by the county sales tax. • $1,750,000 debt payment will be funded by the county sales tax fund in the amount of $855,543 and the county debt levy in the amount of $894,457. • reserve for contingencies increased $250,000. • retirement payout increased $200,000. • the Affordable Care Act services increased $25,000.