Budget

The Village Clerk-Treasurer has the responsibility of collecting taxes for the State, County, Howards Grove Schools, Lakeshore Technical College and the Village.  Each of these entities sets their own budget and notifies the Clerk-Treasurer of the amount that must be entered on the tax bills for collection.  The Village does not have control over the total tax rate but only the portion of the tax that the Board budgets for operation of the village.  For each $1.00 of tax collected in 2007-08 the Village keeps 16¢ to operate and provide services.  The remaining 84¢ is forwarded to the State, County, LTC, and Howards Grove Schools.

As an example, if you pay $1,000 for taxes on your home, only $160 of that money is retained by the Village.  The remaining $840 is collected and distributed to the State, County, LTC and School.

The Village taxes are used for maintenance of roads, maintenance of storm/sanitary sewers, police protection, snow removal, park maintenance and development, fire protection, garbage pickup, street cleaning, street lighting, brush chipping, leaf vacuuming, youth center donation, bridge maintenance, community center expenses, voting, bookmobile van, school crossing guards, sidewalks, building maintenance, building inspection and staff services.  While this list is not all-inclusive, it is a good sample of what service are offered for the comfort of the residents.