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COUNTY SPENDING Jackson County approves $339 million budget Mental health spending, reserve funds increase Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 5:02 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 5:02 PM » Social News The Jackson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an almost $339.4 million budget Wednesday for the fiscal year that starts in July, an increase of about $11 million over the current budget. Much of the increase can be attributed to efforts to build reserve funds, although spending for the county's Health and Human Services Department is up as well, said Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan. The Jackson County Health and Human Services Department budget will rise by $5.4 million next year. The department is providing more mental health services to county residents in response to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which put mental health coverage on par with physical health care coverage. Jackson County has contracts to provide mental health care to residents on the Oregon Health Plan. Federal funding that flows to Oregon and then Jackson County is paying for the majority of the increased mental health care. Meanwhile, the county has built its reserve funds to $106 million. Of that, about $60 million involves general fund reserves, Jordan said. County officials hope to eventually build general fund reserves to $100 million, then use interest earnings to reduce property taxes, he said. Interest off general fund reserves can be used as county commissioners wish. Interest off dedicated fund reserves must stay with those funds and be used for those specific dedicated purposes, Jordan said. County commissioners could choose to use general fund reserves now to lower property taxes temporarily, but $100 million in such reserves could be used to permanently lower property taxes through the interest earnings, Jordan said. "It can be like an endowment," he said. Commissioner Rick Dyer said he supports building the county's reserve funds not only because having reserves is prudent, but interest earnings could eventually be used to benefit taxpayers. "This is something we hope to do in the future to continue the services at the level they are at but to reduce the overall tax burden to Jackson County residents," he said. The county property tax rate of $2.01 per $1,000 of assessed value will remain flat for the coming fiscal year, although the taxable amount of assessed value is allowed to increase 3 percent annually under statewide tax rules. County property taxes provide about 10 percent of the funding for the county's almost $339.4 million budget for the coming fiscal year, according to Jordan. Dyer said he believes the county's finances are being managed well and services are being delivered effectively and efficiently. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 5:02 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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