HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT:
THE JEFFERSON CO. WEED DISTRICT SPECIAL MILL LEVY
Noxious Weeds in Jefferson County are spreading faster than the current Weed Control Program can handle.
NOXIOUS WEEDS ARE RAPIDLY BECOMING THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT RESIDENTS HAVE HISTORICALLY ENJOYED.  AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, WILDLIFE HABITAT,  AND STREAM & HILLSIDE STABILITY ARE ALL IN JEOPARDY!!!!
Proposed Mill Levy:
The Jefferson County Weed Board and County Commissioners are proposing to the voters of Jefferson County at the June, 2000 Primary Election to increase the county wide Weed mill by two (2) mills for a total of four (4) mills for a two (2) year period.

Currently each county wide mill raises $23,067.00. Using the current taxable valuation, two (2) mills would generate approximately $46,134.00 per year.

COST TO TAXPAYERS:
EXAMPLE:
$100,000.00 = Appraised Property Value
X   3.627%  Tax Rate
      3,627.00 Taxable Value
X          .002 Two (2) Mills
=  $7.25 Increase per year
WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED USES FOR THE 2 MILL LEVY REQUEST?:

I. $11,000.00 PER YEAR WILL GO TO IMPLEMENT A HERBICIDE COST SHARE PROGRAM.  THE PROGRAM WOULD BE A 50% COST SHARE FOR CHEMICALS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $500.00 AS FUNDS ALLOW.

II. $10,000.00 PER YEAR WILL BE USED FOR SPRAYING OF NON-COMPLIANCE CASES.

III. $11,000.00 PER YEAR WILL GO TO INCREASE THE COUNTY ROAD SPRAYING PROGRAM.

IV. $7,000.00 WILL BE USED TO PAY BACK AN INTERCAP LOAN.

V. $7,134.00 WILL BE USED FOR INCREASING THE BIOLOGICAL WEED CONTROL AND NOXIOUS WEED EDUCATION EFFORT IN THE COUNTY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, FEEL FREE TO CALL:
WEED DISTRICT SUPERVISOR:
DAVE BURCH / 225-4156
OR
WEED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS:
CORY FITZGERALD / 287-5422
MARK KELLER / 449-3867
BILL GILLESPIE / 287-5113
JUDY JONES / 933-5567
RON GIBSON / 225-3391
NOXIOUS WEEDS CAN REDUCE THE VALUE OF LAND:
Realtors are seeing more potential buyers scrutinize weed infestation and management practices before closing.  On production-oriented land, noxious weeds are usually considered in land appraisals.  In one analysis, the presence of a noxious weed that reduces carrying capacity by 60% lowered the value of the land from the original $220 to $100 per acre.
mtwow.org HOME   Contact Jefferson Co. Weed District  4/15/2000.