The Warren County Commissioners approved the 2013 budget and a .75-mill increase in taxes, the first increase in nearly 10 years.
"I personally haven't had any comments or requests to change," Commissioner Stephen Vanco said.
The changes that have come are out of the commissioners' control, Vanco said when the budget was released.
"The changes are an anticipated rise in health care, not much per employee, but when you add them up over the number of employees, it adds up," he said.
The other increase comes in the form of employee salaries. Several years ago, the commissioners approved increases for county employees that included future raises for themselves. The 2013 fiscal year includes a 2-percent salary increase for all employees.
Other costs might crop up as well.
"We anticipate some maintenance issues," Vanco added, indicating that one of the heating boilers at the courthouse was causing some concern. He expressed a hope that a repair, rather than a replacement, could alleviate the situation.
The commissioners could've run one more year with a tax increase but that would've left the county without any reserves, which Vanco said wouldn't of been fiscally responsible.
Not raising taxes would have resulted in a reserve potentially as low as $70,000; "$70,000 can disappear pretty quick in a multi-million dollar budget," Vanco said.
The total property tax millage rate for the county has been 18.75 mills for the past nine years and is set to increase to 19.50 next year. The 3/4 of a mill increase is expected to raise $360,000, Fiscal Director Toby Rohlin said.
The county estimates there will be $17 million in revenues for next year, not counting the tax increase, and $16,930,000 in expenditures.