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Commerce Council sets maximum property tax rate 0.8306; budget funds patrol vehicles, radio system, parks upgrades
Summary
The Commerce City Council adopted a resolution setting a maximum property tax rate (a ceiling) of 0.8306 for fiscal 2026 and discussed budget items that the rate would support, including patrol vehicles, a fire engine, a new radio system, rec center lease costs and park lighting.
The Commerce City Council on Aug. 19 adopted a resolution establishing a maximum proposed property tax rate of 0.8306 to support the city’s draft fiscal 2026 budget.
The ceiling-setting vote does not itself adopt the final tax rate but prevents the council from later adopting a higher rate, City Manager Lisenby said. “It is establishing a ceiling. And after tonight, the city council cannot consider a tax rate higher than the number that is identified, in tonight's resolution,” Lisenby said.
The council moved the ceiling after staff described the state-prescribed budget timetable and two reference rates used in local budgeting: the “no-new-revenue” rate, calculated by the state, and the voter-approval rate, which allows a 3.5% increase without triggering an election. Lisenby said the state’s no-new-revenue rate for the coming year is 0.820323 cents and that the proposed 0.8306 ceiling is above the no-new-revenue rate but below the voter-approval rate.
Staff presented how the ceiling would translate to revenue and household impacts. The certified taxable value after exemptions is $663,804,006, Lisenby reported. At 0.8306 the city would levy $5,513,556 compared with $5,317,011 under last year’s rate of 0.798909 — a $196,545 increase in levy, of which $111,538 is attributable to new construction and the remainder a net increase of about $85,007.
Lisenby described specific spending included in the budget proposal: replacement of 10 patrol vehicles (annual cost shown as $80,363), a new fire engine (annual cost $66,353), purchase of a new public-safety radio system, a forensics equipment line ($12,500), a $48,000 annual lease reimbursement to the independent school district for the use of the old Millsville gym as a recreation center, a $37,250 annual maintenance contract to restore baseball fields at Eddie Moore, and ongoing costs for solar lighting in parks ($36,684 per year).
Lisenby framed the increase as modest to a typical homeowner: at the city’s stated median home value ($184,611), the proposed ceiling would raise annual property taxes by $58.51, or roughly $4.88 per month. “It would raise property values for residential customers up about the cost of a cup of coffee, each month,” Lisenby said.
The council approved the resolution by roll call: Councilman Mueller, Mayor Riehl and Councilman Thompson recorded aye votes. The resolution passed.
Staff noted the council may adopt a lower rate when it adopts the final budget. The city manager and finance staff will return to council with the formal budget and final tax rate for adoption in subsequent public meetings.
The council’s action starts the legally required notification process and preserves options for later adjustments during formal budget adoption.
