Officials with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) have ruled that the Marshall County Commissioners can move forward with reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at its maximum rate.
In a decision handed down on Aug. 31, DLGF officials approved the levying of a tax in the amount of $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2018. The rate must be advertised and the amount must be properly appropriated in the 2018 budget.
The commissioners approved an ordinance reestablishing the fund in April only to have 50 people object to the rate increase. The DLGF held a public hearing on June 22 to hear at least 10 of the residents who objected and the county officials defending the increase.
The rate increase will be used to cover capital expenses in the budget such as the purchase of computer equipment in addition to maintaining county roads and leases on highway equipment. Those opposed to the increase argued that the county has the money in its budget to cover these costs and will realize new funds from the recent increase in the gasoline tax.
The DLGF found that the opponents did not “point to any purchase not permitted by statute that the county intends to use for the Fund” and thus granted the county the opportunity to move forward with reestablishing the fund.
