Dodge County approves 5.7% tax levy increase

It was a short Truth-in-Taxation public hearing Thursday night, before Dodge County commissioners approved a tax levy increase of 5.7%.
County Administrator Jim Elmquist began the hearing by explaining the public hearing had been set based on the preliminary adopted budget approved by the commissioners in September. That budget was used in the notices for the Truth in Taxation in Taxation hearing and had a net levy increase of 6.9%, with the total budget showing an increase of 7.5%.
The county continued to work on reducing the budget and the levy amount. Commissioners reviewed the final proposed budget and levy at their second meeting in November.
With no questions from the public during Thursday’s hearing, the board unanimously approved the budget and levy. The 2026 budget includes expenditures of $39,264,627 and fund revenues/balances of $19,167,796, with county program aid totaling $1,129,585 and leaving a tax levy of $18,967,236.
By fund, the 2026 budget includes: Revenue Fund, $18,742,988; EDA/HRA, $33,040; Environmental Quality, $2,416,315; Highway, $13,336,448; Human Services, $3,745624; GO Debt Fund, $990,202.