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Ralston to hold levy steady at 66.7¢ despite higher revenue from new growth
Summary
Ralston city administrator Jack Choloha said the city will keep its levy at 66.7¢ for 2025–26 and will collect about $4.44 million in property tax revenue, roughly $124,000 more than state allowance because of new growth and other factors.
Jack Choloha, city administrator for the City of Ralston, presented Ralston’s FY2025–26 budget at the Douglas County joint public hearing and said the city will hold its levy at 66.7¢ per $100 of assessed valuation.
Choloha explained that state law allows 2% inflationary growth plus new growth on which the city can budget. Ralston reported about 6.86% new growth, for a total allowable increase of roughly 8.86%. The city expects to collect approximately $4,440,000 in property tax dollars for 2025–26, up from $3,970,000 the prior year. Choloha told the hearing that the city will exceed the state‑allowed amount by about $124,000 and therefore must present the rationale at this special hearing.
Choloha said the additional revenue is intended to cover obligations such as contracted volunteer fire services and police expenses, and to absorb an extra 2% pension contribution required for first‑class city police under state law. He cited uncertainty about pending state legislative activity and said the city wants to “be nimble and responsible to our taxpayers in the city of Ralston.”
Choloha invited residents with questions to contact him at the city office; he closed by reiterating the levy will remain the same and explaining why the city must hold the public hearing when asking to collect more than the statute’s basic growth allowances.
