The Town of Bell set its tentative millage rate Thursday night.
The tentative millage rate was set at 3.0 mills and approved by a 5-0 vote.
The tentative budget was set at just over $1.2 million and also approved by a 5-0 vote. This is 8.5 percent higher than the rolled back rate, which would generate the same amount of tax revenue as last year.
Town Attorney David Lang said the budget would increase by 7.8 percent if the town finalizes it at the final budget hearing.
The final budget hearing will be Tuesday, Sept. 23.
The town heard from Courtney Enzor, a representative of Powell & Jones, the company that performs audits on the town that are submitted to the state.
Earlier this year, Bell had requested a representative from the company attend a meeting because the town’s audit had not been submitted to the state, and the state was threatening to withhold money from the town until it was submitted. Powell & Jones submitted the audit, and the town received its money from the state.
Enzor said the town’s financial records looked good.