Dunn County budget: Cuts tax rate, OKs geothermal and solar to reduce energy costs

MENOMONIE, Wis. -- The 2025 Dunn County budget reduces the tax rate and includes borrowing to install a geothermal and solar energy project for the Judicial Center and Central Campus area. 

“This budget is fiscally responsible and still makes a significant improvement in our energy infrastructure,” said Kris Korpela, Dunn County Manager.  “The taxpayers will benefit for years to come from the energy-saving projects supervisors have approved.” 

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12 approved the 2025 county budget that continues the recent trend of reducing the property tax rate for the next year.   The 2025 tax rate will go from $4.83 for each $1,000 of equalized value to $4.53, a reduction of 6.2 percent. The 2024 budget reduced the tax rate by 14 percent as well.  The tax rate was $7.10 in 2020. 

The budget includes $11 million in borrowing for a geothermal and solar project for some Dunn County buildings.  The project will install a geothermal heat pump system for the Judicial Center, 615 Stokke Parkway in Menomonie, as well as adding to the current geothermal system serving the Government Center and Neighbors of Dunn County.  The project will add a solar system on the central campus property on Stokke Parkway that will be used to power all three campus buildings.   

"The current boiler and air conditioning system at the Judicial Center are outdated and inefficient,” said Dan Dunbar, Assistant County Manager, adding that a consulting firm was utilized in January to survey all county buildings for their energy efficiency ratings and proposed the geothermal and solar project. 

“While the county is more energy efficient than other counties our size,” Dunbar said, “the study showed we can save money by producing our own energy.” 

Combined with the heat pump system, Dunbar said, geothermal wells will provide for heating and cooling at the Judicial Center. 

The solar installation will provide electricity for the Judicial Center, Government Center and the Neighbors of Dunn County.  The final location of the solar panels has not been determined, Dunbar added. 

The estimated cost of the combined project is $11 million, with the county in line for $3.4 million in rebates and incentives. 

“The estimated 25-year savings for county taxpayers is nearly $20 million,” Dunbar said.  “We think that is a good investment. All the money to pay for this debt will come from money previously allocated to pay electric and gas bills for our facilities.” 

The budget calls for total county spending of $111.2 million.  The tax levy – the total amount of property taxes the county will levy in 2025 – will increase less than 1 percent to $24.78 million. The levy is made up of a portion for libraries and bridges, $925,674; debt obligations, $5.17 million; and operations, $18.69 million. 

The County Board approved $3 million of borrowing for highway projects and used about $2.5 million from the fund balance to create a balanced budget. 

-30-