Finance and Audit Committee

1. 2027 Preliminary Property Tax Levy and Budget

File 2026-0412 · Resolution · Finance

Setting the maximum preliminary levy for taxes payable in 2027.

The County Board must certify a preliminary levy to the County Auditor-Treasurer by September 30. The preliminary levy sets a ceiling: the final levy adopted in December may be lower but may not be higher.

The recommended preliminary levy is an increase of 4.9% over the levy for taxes payable in 2026. Of that increase, 2.1 points fund contractual wage settlements already ratified, 1.4 points fund the debt service on the 2026A bonds, and 1.4 points fund the operating cost of the expanded crisis response program approved in March.

A truth-in-taxation hearing will be held on December 1.

Recommendation: Adopt the resolution setting a preliminary levy of $118,740,000 for taxes payable in 2027.

Fiscal impact: Levy increase of 4.9%; median homestead impact estimated at $61 per year.

Attachments:

• 2027 Preliminary Levy Detail.pdf (1.7 KB)

1. Annual Financial Report and Auditor Communication

File 2026-0424 · Information · Finance

Presentation of the annual comprehensive financial report and the auditor’s communication to those charged with governance.

The independent auditor will present the annual comprehensive financial report for the year ended December 31, 2025, together with the required communication to those charged with governance. The opinion is unmodified. No material weaknesses were identified; one significant deficiency relating to segregation of duties in a decentralised cash receipting location is reported, with management's response.

Recommendation: Receive and file.

Fiscal impact: None.

Attachments:

• Auditor Communication to Those Charged with Governance.pdf (1.5 KB)