The county board is considering a 9 percent property tax levy increase to make up for reductions in state aid.

Finance Committee Chairman Ray Tucker will discuss the potential increase with the board during its 1 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

The county levy increase for 2011 was 3 percent. The increase was 1.5 percent the year before. “It’s been quite a few years since we’ve had that large of a hit,” Tucker said of the proposed 9 percent increase for 2012.

Since property values and tax categories vary, a 9 percent overall levy increase would not necessarily increase individual properties’ taxes by that percentage. Some might have smaller increases, some larger.

Commissioners typically vote on the next year’s levy increase in December after a budget and levy meeting.

The county is planning for significant budget problems from funding cuts in the state budget.

Mower County is expected to lose a projected $1.5 million in 2012 in Homestead Market Value Credit cuts,due to the state budget agreement, according to County Coordinator Craig Oscarson.

While not all the effects on property taxes are known, Tucker said one thing is clear: All the levy increases are stemming from the state, not increases in county spending.

“It’s completely because of the state pushing their problems down to the county level,” Tucker said.

Tucker said it’s a myth that the state hasn’t been raising taxes, as legislators are forcing counties, cities and schools to raise revenue instead.

“It’s just given us all sorts of problems,” Tucker said.

Tucker said he wishes the state would simply cut programs instead of cutting funds, which often pass on the costs. “It’s just a political play because they’re just shifting the responsibility down to the lower level,” Tucker said. “The end result is more taxes.”

While he didn’t point to any specific cuts, Tucker said the board is always looking for ways to curb costs.

“I think we’ll have to continue to address the way we do business,” Tucker said. “We’re doing some additional cuts all the time.”

Certain programs, Tucker said, still deserve funding. However, he noted the board has to be wise when it comes to spending.

“We don’t necessarily have to be the lowest taxpayers in the world, but we have to be the most efficient,” Tucker said.

Tucker said the tax increase are imbalanced, and agriculture land will feel the hit much more than industrial or residential land, largely because agricultural land is currently valued at historic levels.

“That’s not really right either, but that’s just the way things are right now,” Tucker said.

Board to discuss Accessory Dwelling Units

The board will discuss Accessory Dwelling Units, or units meant for families to house elderly grandparents and needy residents nearby on rural properties so they don’t have to enter a nursing home.

Though an ordinance was voted down by the county planning commissioner, Tucker said there are still many options for residents looking into such options.

The units, sometimes called “granny flats,” are meant to help elderly residents live independently outside nursing homes.

Tucker said the board has always handled such requests to build granny flats through conditional use permits.

Board to vote on winery zoning change

An area winery has reached its final stepping stone to be able to open a restaurant.

The county board will approve or deny a change to the zoning ordinance to allow family farm wineries, like Four Daughters Winery, to operate a restaurant.