La Crosse County supervisors Tuesday approved a 2010 budget that includes a 2.6 percent increase in the property tax levy.

The county tax rate will be $3.74 per $1,000 in assessed property value, 1 cent higher than in 2009.

The increase will add an average of $7.50 to property taxes on a $150,000 home.

County Administrator Steve O'Malley said the tax hike could vary slightly according to the municipality, because of equalized value and other variables.

Taxpayers will fund $28.9 million of the county's expenditures in 2010, compared with a $28.2 million levy in 2009. Although the county has a $132 million budget, most of that is federal and state money for a variety of mandated programs.

The budget raises landfill tipping fees by $353,000, a move sparked by state action.

It also has $136,057 more in general fees, including $12,000 in campground fee increases.

Supervisor Jeff Schroeder sought to rescind the campground increases, but his motion failed for lack of a second.

While approving the budget for 2010, county board members debated their own compensation and cut a $15,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, only to later restore it.

Supervisors also approved declaring a health state of emergency to give the county powers to deal with any crisis that might arise involving H1N1 flu.

They also voted 21 to 12 to continue making $25,000 annual donations to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's new stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.

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• County board raises its health insurance costs
• La Crosse County supervisors debates gifts to nonprofits