The Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday to authorize publication of the county’s fiscal 2013 budget.

The budget will see 15 out of 21 property classes face overall tax decreases, while properties including agricultural dwellings and residential properties will see slight increases.

The supervisors initially predicted the decreases to lower the county’s overall tax levy by 25 cents compared with last year. However, they received notification from the Iowa Department of Management on Feb. 3 that Johnson County would need to increase its levy in mental health and disability services by $250,000 in order to remain eligible for state mental health and disability funding for fiscal 2013.

Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said the supervisors decided to increase that levy now because they can lower a budget following publication but not raise it. The revised overall county-wide levy is now 21 cents lower than last year.

The county’s overall budget following the new levy will be $84,208,573.

The supervisors set a public hearing for the budget estimate for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29.

— by Luke Voelz