Following a public hearing Tuesday morning, the Juneau County Board of Supervisors approved the budget for expenditures and revenues for 2016 and established a tax levy for county tax purposes. The grand total of county taxes, state taxes, special charges and county library taxes is 12,617,697.19. The budget represents a levy dollar increase of $77,876 over 2015, with a mil rate of $6.43 per thousand dollars. This is a decrease of about six cents from 2015. The 2016 budget includes a 1% wage increase in January for all employees, excluding elected officials, limited term employees, sheriff department lieutenants and captain, and sheriff deputies, who are covered by a bargaining agreement.
Also during the meeting, the supervisors approved authorizing the hiring of a full-time Coordinated Services Team (CST) Facilitator in the Department of Human Services. About 8 years ago, Juneau County applied and received a state grant to provide such services for children and families with challenges in school, community or at home. Then in 2013, the state changed the grant into an ongoing allocation. Department of Human Services Scott Ethun said after consideration with Lori Chipman and other program managers, they would be able to serve more children and families by bring this into the Human Services Department. The salary would be funded by a CST grant allocation from the state.
The board also approve 14 different land sales and approved to fill three positions in the county.