The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a 1.5 percent county tax levy increase when compared to 2012.

Because of the values of properties in Freeborn County generally are declining, residential and commercial business owners likely will find a decrease in their property taxes, while owners of farmland will see an increase.

Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said county taxes will be down about $24 annually for a $100,000 home and about $107 down annually for a $200,000 commercial business.

Agricultural property taxes will go up about 10 percent, Kluever noted, mainly because of the

rising market value of farmland.

The total county levy approved was $19.46 million.

Kluever said the levy increase equates to about $290,000, which will go to support an increased Highway Department budget, specifically for infrastructure and road maintenance.

The total budget approved Tuesday included $41.4 million in expenditures and $40.8 million in revenues. Kluever said the county can usually anticipate a surplus at the end of the year which will go to support the difference.

If there is not a surplus, the difference will come from reserves.

He said the budget and levy were approved unanimously with little discussion.

The levy was the same as the one approved in September.