By Sara Quam
The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday set its preliminary levy at $2,850,692, or just more than 3 percent over last year's.
Although the levy is preliminarily set, the county still has a lot of budget work to do.
The public will get a chance to offer input at an Oct. 2 meeting. The county department heads will be on hand to answer questions at 7 p.m. in the Human Services community room.
The preliminary levy is the maximum the state allows and can be lowered. The board, except for Commissioner Ron Boyenga, voted to pass the preliminary levy at the highest permitted to allow for room to change.
The budget doesn't include salary increases yet because those contracts haven't been negotiated. Law enforcement costs could skyrocket due to the recent murder investigation.
Chairman Ken Hoime said, "This is only preliminary; we can adjust down. We're dealing with a lot of unknowns yet."
County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "We have a number of costs that could be coming in."
Bookmobile signs
The county will purchase and erect signs at the three stops the Plum Creek Library System bookmobile makes in Rock County.
The signs cost $11 each and will be the dark blue with white lettering that similar landmark signs use. A schedule of stops will be attached below the blue sign on the same post.
Stops in Rock County are: Hardwick, on Main Street Wednesdays Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Hills, by the school Wednesdays Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and Kanaranzi, by the school Wednesdays, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m..