Next year’s Rock County budget will increase by more than 8%, mainly due to security issues. A security overhaul of the courthouse along will cost more than $5 million by itself. Another area of increased spending is in response to the opioid crises, with $800,000 going to human services to help with child care. Despite an almost $15 million increase in expenditures over last year’s budget, additional revenue sources and increases in equalized property value will actually result in an almost 5% decrease in the tax rate. The county board voted unanimously in favor of the plan Tuesday night.
