FLORENCE, Wis. — The Florence County Board has passed its 2025 budget, listing total expenditures of $11,565,498, down 9.5% from 2024.

The tax levy for the 2024 tax year to be applied to the 2025 budget is $4,807,897, at a rate of $4.59 for government operations plus $1.69 per $1,000 of equalized value for emergency medical services.

Under levy limits set by the state, property tax revenues will rise by $208,035 from the 2023 levy. To balance the budget, prior-year surpluses of $106,642 from the human services fund and $708,000 from the general fund will be tapped.

The capital improvement plan includes $230,000 for the purchase of a new ambulance and $158,000 for the purchase of two law enforcement vehicles. Bond proceeds are also available for building improvements at the courthouse and highway projects.

In other business, the board Tuesday:

— Adopted the five-year capital improvement plan. Anticipated capital expenditures for 2025 total $608,809 and $8,986,925 for the five year period.

— Approved the 202-2027 Florence County Plan on Aging as approved by the ADRC/Aging Board.

— Voted to accept the legal opinion on the Halada property in the Town of Long Lake. The property is the site of a former gas station. The legal opinion was to transfer the property along with grant monies received to clean up the site back to the town.