WAPELLO — A proposed $389,000 budget for fiscal year 2019 was tentatively approved Tuesday by the Louisa County Conference Board. The proposal, which would cover next year’s spending in the county assessor’s office, would be about $30,000 higher than this year’s anticipated expenditures of $359,000.

However, because of higher valuations in the county, the tax rate is actually expected to drop from this year’s 53 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation to around 47 cents per $1,000.

Assessor Cathy Smith also asked the board to begin allocating funds as part of two separate five-year plans to conduct an aerial survey of the county and to prepare for a revaluation of commercial, industrial and multi-residential properties. Both of those programs would be conducted in 2023.

The proposed budget included $8,000 for the flight, while the initial allocation for the five-year revaluation project is set at $26,800.

Smith said the flight has normally been conducted every 10 years and the last flight was completed in 2013.

Representatives from Vanguard Appraisals Inc., Cedar Rapids, were present to provide the board with a summary of their services that would be used by the county for the revaluation project.

Vanguard President Robert Ehler said his company was the only one in Iowa to offer revaluation services. He said there were currently 390 developed parcels in the county, which Vanguard would conduct a revaluation of for $339 per parcel. Vanguard would conduct a revaluation of an additional 122 undeveloped parcels for $15 per parcel.

The total cost would be around $134,000, although Ehler said that was subject to change because the number of parcels likely would change during the five-year period before the project would be completed.

Smith said the revaluation was overdue, pointing out the last one had been completed in 1995 and the industry standard for revaluations was eight years. She also reported state officials recently ordered an 8 percent equalization of commercial property in the county.

Although the board approved a contract with Vanguard, it delayed signing any documents until after the budget has been formally approved.

The conference board also approved two budget changes involving the county geographical information system. The board agreed to decrease payments the assessor’s office is making to the county GIS department and possibly use a portion of those funds for contracted website maintenance.

The board also agreed to drop funding support for the county’s GIS coordinator position.

Smith had proposed both changes, explaining she did not feel those expenses were providing needed services for her office.

The conference board will hold its next meeting Feb. 27, when it will also hold a public hearing on its proposed FY19 budget.