The Warren County Board of Supervisors may hike the real estate tax by as much as 10% to raise more money for law enforcement and fire and rescue.

Chairwoman Cheryl L. Cullers, Vice Chairman Jerome K. “Jay” Butler and supervisors Vicky L. Cook, Richard A. Jamieson and John W. Stanmeyer agreed at a work session on Tuesday to authorize the county administration to advertise for a public hearing on an increase in the real estate tax by 5 cents, or 9.8%, from 49 cents to 54 cents per $100 of the assessed value. The board will also advertise a 36-cent increase, or 9%, in the personal property tax from $4 to $4.36 per $100 of the assessed value.

The board can vote on tax levies at or below, but not over, the advertised rates.

Jamieson pointed out that even with a 5-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, the county still falls more than $1 million short of the $6.5 million needed to fund requests of public safety departments and the school system. Jamieson cited a list distributed to the board by County Administrator Edwin Daley of some of the needed funding increases for public safety agencies and the schools.

“So there is no doubt this list is gonna be trimmed and it’s gonna reflect our priorities ...” Jamieson said.

Jamieson said he expects the board to set tax rates well below what it advertised. He noted that people may “panic” when they see the advertised rates.

“I agree with the logic — you can always lower it — but I’m reticent to put a high upper bound there ‘cause people tend to cozy up to that upper bound and think that’s their target,” Jamieson said. “It won’t be my target, I can tell you that.”

Cullers, who has voiced opposition to raising taxes in the past, said she hopes they can bring down the rates through negotiations with departments.

Cullers went on to say that the board members knew they would likely need to increase the taxes after they lowered the real estate tax rate for 2023 last spring as a result of an increase in property values. The board lowered the real estate tax rate from 65.5 cents to the current 49 cents per $100 of assessed value in order to level off how much revenue the county would receive.

The Department of Fire and Rescue Services is requesting funding for six more firefighter/emergency medical technicians and three of the same positions identified as floaters.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office has asked the county to fund four deputy positions, which are vacancies left unfilled in the current budget. The sheriff’s office also has requested money for new vehicles. The school board also has requested more money in its budget request.

The supervisors recently identified funding public safety, including increased staffing, as a priority in the next budget.