The Door County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a 2021 county budget of about $90 million, including a total tax levy of about $31 million.
The 2021 tax rate is $3.98 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, a decrease of about 10 cents from 2020. While the tax rate decreased, the total tax levy increased slightly compared to 2020 due to a 4 percent rise in the total equalized value (a measure of property value) in the county.
Health insurance rates for county employees will increase in 2021, while dental rates will not change. Full-time employees will pay a cost share of 15 percent. This excludes public safety bargaining groups, which are projected at a cost share of 12.8 percent.
The expense budget for worker’s compensation increased 8.2 percent to $1,162,289, due to a $600,000 transfer to the general budget because the worker’s compensation fund is above the designated reserve balance.
The tax levy for county roads and bridges is down 0.26 percent, due to increases in revenue including more state and federal aid.
Appropriations for capital projects are down 4.12 percent since 2020, with notable projects in 2021 including approximately 19 miles of highway construction throughout the county and new facilities for the Washington Island Fire Department.