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La Center approves 2025 property tax levy; rate falls to $0.79 per $1,000 as assessed value rises
Summary
Council approved Ordinance 2024-14, increasing the city’s property tax levy revenue by 1% for 2025 (an additional $6,904) while the levy rate per $1,000 of assessed value falls to $0.79 due to higher assessed values; sewer and stormwater monthly fees unchanged.
The council adopted Ordinance 2024-14 setting the 2025 property tax levy and related revenue estimates after a public hearing. The ordinance increases property-tax revenue from the prior year by 1% (an added $6,904) while the city’s levy rate per $1,000 of assessed value falls from $0.81 to $0.79 because overall assessed value increased.
City staff reported the city’s total assessed value as of Jan. 1, 2024 at about $953.0 million (up roughly $31.1 million, a 3.7% increase). New-construction assessed value for 2024 was shown as $70.8 million (an 8.3% increase). City staff also reported a planned transfer from the sewer utility to the general fund of $400,000.
Maria Inskeep, presenting the revenue analysis, confirmed city staff plan no change to the sewer monthly charge for 2025; the sewer monthly fee will remain $66.00 and the stormwater maintenance fee will remain at $10.60. Inskeep said the city is conducting a sewer study that could inform future rate adjustments but no change was adopted in the ordinance.
Roll-call votes recorded councilmember responses: Casperg — Yes; Boyle — Yes; Leija — Yes; Cervini — Yes; Councilmember Fox was absent and excused. The ordinance passed by majority roll-call vote.
Why it matters: approving the ordinance sets the city’s legal levy for 2025 and locks in the tax revenue projections used in the 2025 budget. While assessed values increased, the levy-rate decrease means the rate per $1,000 of valuation is lower than the prior year even as total levy revenue rises slightly.
