Rice County Review: Preliminary Tax Levy Set

The Rice County Board of Commissioners this week approved a preliminary 1.72-percent increase to the 2011 property tax levy.

The county—like other —had to have a preliminary levy set before the Sept. 15 state deadline. The county's budget will be scrutinized in the coming months by staff and commissioners before a final budget and levy is approved in December.

The preliminary increase is the maximum the commissioners can raise taxes when a final number is approved. They can, however, decide on a smaller increase or none at all.