(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has adopted a 2023 county budget that calls for the county collect more than $7 million local tax revenue.

The commission took the action Wednesday on a 2-1 vote following a hearing drawing no public comment.

Commissioner Bill Pollock cast the dissenting vote, which came after he read a statement voicing his concerns about the inclusion of funding in the budget for economic development and courthouse security.

He said he believes the courthouse security violates citizens rights.  In addition, Pollock said he believes that tax dollars should not be given to individuals or groups that are not accountable to the voters.

He proposed that the money earmarked for the county's two economic development groups---the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development and Horton Industrial Development Corporation--be used instead to fund the development of a comprehensive plan, which he said should be helpful to all businesses and individuals in the county.

Following a separate hearing, drawing no public comment, the commission adopted a resolution that authorizes the county to levy a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate.

Statement read by Commissioner Pollock:

“Although I agree with most of the budget there are two major areas that I believe weaken our county. What are we to follow? 1. We are to uphold the U.S. Constitution 2. Tax dollars are legal plunder and are not ours to give to charity of private enterprise. First I believe the court house security violates citizens rights as stated in the second and forth amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Further it divides our community into two classes of people – those that are required to be searched and those that are not – citizens and employees. Second – Tax dollars are not ours to give to individuals or groups that are not accountable to the voters and are able to use those dollars to subsidize or aid or promote a private enterprise with public money. This is detrimental to the free enterprise system that helped to make America strong. Instead of giving tax dollars that are designated for Economic Development to groups that are not accountable to the public, I propose that those dollars help pay for the comprehensive plan that should be helpful to all businesses and individuals in the County and thus promote free enterprise.”