Van Buren County Passes 38-cent Tax Increase

Property taxes will be 38-cents higher in Van Buren County this year.

County Mayor Greg Wilson said county officials tried to avoid raising taxes this year.

“We were hoping last year that the wheel tax would pass and we wouldn’t have to burden the tax on the property owners,” Wilson said. “We ended up having to do a 38-cents for that, and that is mostly going to the general fund and our ambulance fund.”

Wilson said the $2.31 property tax rate will give raises to county employees and hopefully lower overtime pay.

“That way our sheriff can recruit deputies and correctional officers and the ambulance service can recruit EMT’s and paramedics,” Wilson said. “We’re short in both, therefore, overtime is a big factor and it really hurts our budget. We’ll look at other alternatives in the future.”

The Van Buren County Commission approved the budget and tax rate August 6. Wilson said the decision did receive some negative reaction from residents.

“There was a little bit on the night of the meeting, but most of the people that were there was for it because they knew it was going to better the county,” Wilson said. “We have to be able to provide services. We have seen a big loss of experienced deputies, EMT’s, and paramedics because we can’t pay them.”

The county’s new budget also includes funding for new fire equipment and several reimbursable grants.