Union County property owners will see their taxes drop in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, even though Union County Commission approved a budget June 12, with expenditures topping last year’s budget by more than $1.7 million. Union County Mayor Mike Williams said the tax decrease is probably attributable to the recent property reappraisal. The property tax rate will drop from $2.17 to $2.1399 for every $100 of taxable property.

This budget sees increases in line items for the Ambulance Service and Highway Department, as well as an $11,800 increase in the amount the county contributes to nonprofits. Missing from the nonprofit resolution were last year’s $9,000 contribution to the Union County Chamber of Commerce and $3,000 to the Imagination Library, but the county increased the amount going to the volunteer fire departments and added funding for youth soccer and the Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard.

Williams said all the requests from county offices were met, and the school board budget was passed as presented.

“It was a mild budget season with no big controversy,” Williams said. “The budget is very similar to the one we passed last year.”

Williams said one item still in discussion, although it will require no borrowing, is the proposed courthouse improvement project that will make the courthouse more ADA compliant. He said the commission will take up discussion of the project in July.

“There is an ongoing discussion about that, but it’s not a budget problem,” Williams said. “We set aside a couple of pennies per year. We have the money in-house.”

For those who remember budget seasons that stretched into October, having an approved budget in June is a relief. Williams said having a central finance office helps the county budgeting process.

“I think the big thing is that the public is seeing where their money is being spent,” Williams said. “By managing the money more wisely, we are able to buy a new ambulance or new equipment for the Highway Department. And all those things we buy, they better serve the public.

“With centralized finance, if someone wants to see how the money is being spent, they can go down there and get a copy of it. We are one of the top counties in the state in terms of getting the budget in on time and following the procedures the state comptroller’s office has set forth, and our audits reflect that.”

The next Union County Commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, July 10, in the large courtroom of the Union County Courthouse.