County proposes dropping levy another 58 cents

LEE COUNTY –  Lee County is looking to tax $400,000 less in 2026 than they did in fiscal year 2025, which ends in June.
The Board of Supervisors has committed to reducing property taxes by at least .58/$1,000 through 2029 to get to $3.50/$1000 levy in general services and $3.95 for rural basic services. The current levy is $9.31 for the general fund and $2.27 for rural basic services. It also includes a 75-cent EMS special levy, and a 63-cent debt service levy.
For 2026, those numbers are projected is $8.76 for general services and $2.25 for rural basic. The EMS special levy remains at 75 cents and debt service drops to 61 cents for a $12.37 overall levy, which reflects the .58 commitment.
County Budget Director Cindy Renstrom is projecting a fiscal year 2026 budget, which runs from July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026, to generate $19,928,601 compared to the current figure of $20,337,302, or a reduction of $408,000.
The largest department budget is secondary roads with more than $11 million in projected expenses, which is an increase of $1.6 million over re-estimated budget numbers for fiscal year 2025. The other largest increase is in snow and ice control, which is up $254,233 or 18%.
The county ambulance budget is projected at $5.74 million, which represents a decrease of $209,998 over the approved 2025 fiscal year budget, but slightly over re-estimated budget numbers for 2025. With recent approved increases in fee structures, revenues are anticipated to be about $39,000 over 2025.
The sheriff’s budget is projected at $5,580,000, up $89,000 from proposed 2025 budget, but down about $9,000 from re-estimated 2025 numbers.
The numbers reflect a change in administration with no jail administrator or chief jailer. Sheriff Elliott Vandenberg has gone to field captains and lieutenants at a cost of $256,928, while cutting the Jail Administrator and Sergeant positions at a savings of $121,620. The moves also reduced projected deputy salary costs by $67,615. The budget for uniformed patrol services is projected at $1.165 million compared to $1.044 million. The investigations' budget was trimmed by $74,000 and correctional services was cut by another $40,000.
The other large budget department is the Lee County Health Department budget at $4.3 million.
Expenses in the department are down $342,000 with revenues also expected to drop $114,000 for a net gain of close to half a million. The budget shows a $208,000 reduction in personnel and services costs, a $13,000 reduction in administrative costs, a $39,000 reduction in family protective services salaries – all part of the department’s General Basic budget line. Under general supplemental, there’s an additional $72,000,  which is mostly employee benefits.
Lee County Conservation submitted a budget of $1.55 million, down $490,000 including $299,000 in land acquisition expenses from 2025 and $133,000 in the general fund line, which includes a $150,000 cut in park improvements for county parks.