March 29, 2024
Local News | Putnam County Record


Local News

Proposed tax increase will aid county services running on ‘bare bone’ budgets

Lenkaitis: ‘We’re not looking to create a slush fund’

HENNEPIN — Putnam County Board is asking residents on election day to approve a tax increase intended to shore up public safety and courthouse operations.

The board is asking for a property tax increase of .0025%, which translates to $5.65 per $100,000 property value per year.

Board member Charlie Lenkaitis last Tuesday gave the first in a series of informational talks meant to explain what the board is asking for and why they’re asking for it.

Lenkaitis explained that when he came on the board in 2018, it was with the intention of helping to straighten out the budget crisis caused by declining corporate revenue. To date, the board has been successful in cutting about $1 million out of a $3 million budget, but the county is feeling those effects with cuts to sheriff’s office and courthouse funding.

“We’ve tried to correct the budget without asking taxpayers for more money,” Lenkaitis explained, “There’s little area left to cut — we’re running all offices on bare bones right now.”

Lenkaitis said with the financial effects of COVID-19, sales tax is down, for one thing, the budget is going to be stretched to its maximum capacity.

The upcoming budget will require the board to squeeze another $200,000 in cuts where its already stretched to the limit, he said.

Lenkaitis said the board could have asked for more, but they aren’t looking to pad the budget or build a surplus at this time, they just want to be able to cover all the county’s expenses.

“We’re not looking to create a slush fund. All money will go to services and we will keep a tight budget,” he promised.

Namely he said, the increase would go to the sheriff’s office and courthouse operations.

Currently, he says the sheriff’s office, helmed by Kevin Doyle, is doing the best they possibly can under the financial circumstances, but residents and deputies deserve better.

“Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is the only law agency in the county available for 24/7 dispatch and services,” Lenkaitis said. “We need to be able to keep deputies on the road and we need to have more than one deputy on shift for their safety.”

Lenkaitis told residents that even with the 0.0037% increase, Putnam County still would be below LaSalle, Bureau and Marshall counties in taxes.

“There are an increasing number of public safety mandates and updates we are required by law to make,” he continued, “And we have to come up with that money somewhere.”

Lenkaitis said the last time the county increased taxes for the general fund was in the 1970s.