The Mower County board was able to meet its goal of trimming a bit more off its 2017 tax increase.

The board unanimously approved 3.13 percent levy increase, which will make for a $19.85 million levy, as the county budget increases to about $46.1 million.

County staff and commissioners were pleased to lower the levy from the 5.69 percent increase discussed at a Truth in Taxation meeting earlier this month and from original projections of around 11 percent.

“Good job finance committee and staff,” Commissioner Jerry Reinartz said.

To make the cuts, the county opted only to add $5,500 to the Mower County Historical Society’s budget, while a request had been made for $11,000. The county also froze allocations to the Mower County Senior Center, though an additional $5,000 was included at one point.

Other savings were made through interest income changes and service fee changes.

New positions account for a $374,060 increase.

The county is also adding a full-time metal detector at the Mower County Jail and Justice Center, but it will be doing it with two new employees with a few jailer positions and by relocating a deputy, while the county originally anticipated having to hire three people for the change.

Other factors driving the increases include:

•$325,000 for the implementation of a compensation study, which will result in an adjustment in payroll.

•$18,000 for the Mower County Soil & Water Conservation District to implement the buffer strip initiative, which is being matched by state funds.

The county plans to use $450,000 in Public Works reserves to fund two road projects instead of increasing the levy to cover the local share of two projects. The county saw an increase of $186,231 in county program aid for 2017.