(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission is proposing a 2024 county budget that calls for total expenditures of $13.5 million and a 4.6 mill levy increase.

The Commission approved the budget for publication Monday on a 2-1 vote after making several additional cuts in an effort to reduce the tax levy.

Commissioner Rich Lehmkuhl casting the lone dissenting vote. He was in favor of including more funding in the budget for employee raises above a 50 cent an hour cost of living increase.

The proposed budget contains an estimated tax rate of 36.538 mills, which is to generate nearly $8.4 million in tax revenue.

Funding for the ambulance service was increased more than $300,000 to $610,000, while funding for employee benefits increased more than $100,000 to more than $1.75 million. General fund expenditures are pegged at nearly $4.7 and funding for the road and bridge department at $4 million.

The commission will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing on August 28 at 9:00 in the morning in the commissioners meeting room at the Brown County Courthouse.