After months of preparation, the 2019 Barton County Budget has been sent to the publisher.

Administrator Phil Hathcock says the 2019 budget document has been signed off by Commissioners and will now be published in the paper. It must be published 10 days before a formal budget hearing can be scheduled and a final vote taken to approve it.

Hathcock says the 2019 county budget contains a very small decrease to the mill levy.

Phil Hathcock Audio

Like all local taxing authorities, Barton County had to prepare their budget with the state mandated tax lid in mind which Hathcock says can be both good and bad for taxpayers.

Phil Hathcock Audio

The tax lid law requires cities and counties to seek voter approval before they can adopt a budget that increases the spending of property tax revenues beyond a five-year average rate of inflation.