Adams County Board approves tax levy

QUINCY — After giving the customary time for review, the Adams County Board approved its $12.29 million tax levy.

The board introduced the measure in September and then unanimously approved the 4.95 percent increase Tuesday night.

And while the county’s tax rate is dropping two cents from last year to 77 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, more tax dollars will be collected due to an expected 7.96 percent increase in the county’s EAV.

One new tax the county approved in September was to levy for the formation of the Adams County Veterans Assistance Commission, which will be headed by Paul Havermale, a former Quincy 3rd Ward alderman who is also the finance officer for American Legion Post 37 and a U.S. Army veteran.

While the county approved the commission’s formation and determines its levy, the commission is governed by its own independent board, according to state statute. The office will consist of Havermale and two other full-time staffers to serve as a liaison and help center for veterans looking for assistance.

“I’m excited about this program,” said Havermale, who attended Tuesday night’s County Board meeting spoke before the governing body in September to advocate for the commission’s formation.

In September, Havermale told the County Board the goal is to provide veterans with the assistance they need to be productive residents of Adams County, which currently serves as home to more than 5,000 veterans and several are not receiving the full amount of benefits they are entitled to.

The levy also has an additional $300,000 for the Adams County Ambulance Service to cover increases in wages and benefits needed to shore up the department’s staffing.

In other action, Transportation, Building and Technology Committee Dave Bellis (R-District 3) said Courthouse mold remediation work should begin in earnest soon. Some committee meetings that are held in the Courthouse’s Law Library will have to be moved as work is expected to be going on at that time.

The Board also approved releasing American Recuse Plan Act (ARPA) funds to finish construction projects for restrooms in parks at Liberty, Camp Point, Plainville and the Adams County Fairgrounds.