Among the most important duties of the county commission is levying taxes and appropriations. The ad valorem millage rate levied by the county for county government purposes is 6.8665. The commission is responsible for providing appropriations for other countywide offices including the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, and supervisor of elections. The county and circuit court systems are also partially supported by the county budget, including the state attorneys and public defenders. A portion of the county's budget is dedicated to providing municipal-level services and regulations to unincorporated areas, such as zoning, business codes, and fire protection. Other services benefit both those in municipalities and in unincorporated Polk County, such as those that provide recreational and cultural opportunities.
AmOnG THE mOst important dUties of The CoUntY COmmissIon is leVYING taxEs aND aPPROpRIatiOns. THe AD ValOReM millaGe rATe LevIed by the coUnTY for CouNty govErNmENT purpOses Is 6.8665. thE Commission Is ResPONsibLE for pRoviDIng AppropriaTIOns For OTheR CoUntYwIdE oFficEs INcLuding thE Sheriff, prOperty appraiSEr, TAx coLLecToR, and supervisoR OF ELectIons. The couNtY And CircuIt couRt sySteMS Are AlsO partialLY suPPorteD by tHE coUntY budget, inCLUding THE staTe aTtoRneys And Public DefEnDers. a PORtion oF The CoUnTy'S budGEt Is dEdIcaTed to ProViding municiPAl-Level seRViceS And regULatioNs tO unincorporatED aReaS, SUch AS zOniNg, BusinesS COdes, AnD FiRE protecTion. oTher sErViceS Benefit bOth tHoSe in munIciPaliTies and In unincORpORated PoLk couNTY, SUCh AS tHoSE that PROvide RecReAtioNal aND culTural opPortunities.