Douglas County taxpayers will help fill in the budgetary hole dug for next year by state and federal governments.

County commissioners agreed Monday to boost the county’s property tax rate by 7.2 percent for next year, enough to add $34.57 to the bill for the owner of a $150,000 house.

Commissioners say the extra money should be enough to offset the loss of $1.8 million in state transfer funds, money normally delivered to the county to help fix roads, pay sheriff’s deputies and defray costs for health and social service agencies.

Some of the new revenue also will help the county offset expected cuts in Medicare and other state and federal financing. Commissioners have committed $260,000 in grants next year to pump up emaciated budgets for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn. and Independence Inc., which suffered the most drastic cuts.

Adding 2 mills to the county’s tax rate — a mill equals $1 in property tax for every $1,000 in a property’s assessed valuation — is a relatively small price to pay to help fill the county’s needs, said Bob Johnson, commission chairman.

“We haven’t added any new programs, and we’ve picked up what we can with regard to the state and federal cuts,” Johnson said. “We’ve done that with a very small increase on the back of the local taxpayer.”

Settling the tax issue effectively closed the book on the county’s preparations for its 2004 operating budget. Commissioners are poised to approve the budget for publication at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, then conduct a formal public hearing on the spending plan Aug. 13.

Monday’s discussions trimmed the tax increase at the expense of future purchasing power.

Commissioners agreed to cut $652,000 out of next year’s reserve funds for equipment. Such funds are savings accounts reserved for major purchases, such as for buying ambulances, photocopiers and computer systems.

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The county now will be expected to have $2.33 million available in equipment reserve, a cut of nearly 22 percent.

Commissioners justified the cut by warning departments and outside agencies that the grant relief wouldn’t be likely to continue. Bert Nash, Visiting Nurses and Independence Inc. each can expect to receive only half as much in 2005 to cover the losses in state and federal funds, commissioners said.

And county departments simply will have less money tucked away to cover any equipment costs that may arise.

“It’s something we have to live with,” said Commissioner Jere McElhaney, who had advocated cutting expenses to keep the county’s tax rate level for next year. “I wanted to hold the line, and I didn’t win. But as a commissioner, I’m comfortable with it. I know we worked hard.”