The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.

Following two public hearings, the Board approved an amendment to the 2016 fiscal year budget as well as the 2017 fiscal year budget. The changes to the 2016 budget include expenses and reimbursements for down payment assistance housing program, election equipment, emergency management services, the Greene County Fair Foundation and fishing habitat, along with a $5,000 expense to the Iowa Drainage District Association.

The urban tax levy remains the same in the 2017 budget at $5.68 per $1,000 valuation, but the Board decided to increase the rural tax levy by four cents to $8.84. Board Chair John Muir explains why the Board went with a small increase.

“We felt we should maybe plan ahead. That if things continue with the economy and everything stays how it is or gets more depressed. It may be tougher for us to make up the ground that we need to make up. So at this point, we just thought that we put that in there (four cent increase) to allow ourselves to plan ahead.”

The Board also approved the compensation schedule with a zero percent increase in Supervisors salaries and two percent for all other elected county officials’ salaries. Peggy Cunningham was then hired as a part time jail matron and Blaine Sunstrom as a part time certified deputy, along with the recorder’s report of fees of $9,391.64 for February.

Finally, County Engineer Wade Weiss discussed with the Board about putting the flag pole back up on top of the courthouse, repairing the outer cover of the glass dome in the rotunda and upgrading a loader. No formal action was taken by the Board on any of the topics.