A $1 million reduction in county debt will allow Anderson County Commissioners to spend about $600,000 more this year, even as they lower the tax mill levy, slightly reduce property taxes overall and actually see a slight drop in county valuation for the first time in years. The budget being approved this summer takes effect as of January 1st. The savings comes in the form of a line item for “lease purchase principal” under the budget’s section for outstanding indebtedness. This section includes general obligation bonds for the construction of the Anderson County Hospital of about $23 million in 2024.
Anderson County Clerk Julie Wettstein says the lease purchase principal reduction is a combination of savings from the county jail payoff and no further budgeting of East Kansas Agri Energy ethanol tax refunding. This will result in a reduction in overall property taxes paid by local property owners of about $4,100. The county’s public hearing on the proposed budget will be at 9:15, August 12th at the Anderson County Annex.
