Butler County will not be raising taxes next year.
The proposed 2025 county budget was unveiled yesterday, and it keeps the millage rate the same for all county residents.
The general fund budget increased a little more than 3 percent, up to $81.4 million.
County officials say the general fund rose due to increases in healthcare costs, cybersecurity, and salary increases.
The total budget, which factors in retirement funding, human services, and more dropped by about 2 percent to $257 million.
This budget also includes projects like the AC Valley industrial park project, additional opioid settlement money, and Infrastructure Bank funds.
As for county’s expenses, public safety remains the highest cost. The highest operating cost is the prison accounting for nearly $18 million. The county is budgeting $5.6 million in revenue for the prison, mainly from housing inmates. However, commissioners note that most of that money is used for debt services.
The county is setting aside just over $7 million for the fund budget in the general fund. Commissioners believe that they won’t utilize that much in order to balance the budget; in 2024 commissioners estimate that they only used just over $1 million from the fund balance.
Commissioners say the county remains in good financial health, citing a high tax collection rate and growing population.
The budget will be posted for review on the county’s website and inside the commissioner’s office.
