Wellsville council adopts resolution to raise budgeted property tax revenue by 0.99%

WELLSVILLE — The Wellsville City Council on Aug. 5 held a public hearing on property taxes and voted to adopt Resolution 2025-0-07, increasing the city’s budgeted property tax revenue by 0.99% over last year’s budgeted revenue, excluding revenue tied to new growth.

Scott Wells, a city staff member who presented the tax information, told the council and the large audience that Wellsville is proposing to hold its tax rate at 0.00081. “Holding our rate is asking for the same,” Wells said, explaining that changes in individual tax bills result primarily from changes in property values rather than the city’s rate. Wells gave examples from the city's notice showing that a $583,000 residence would see the Wellsville portion of property tax move from $256.84 to $259.73 — an increase of $2.89 per year — and a $583,000 business would see a $5.25-per-year increase, from $466.98 to $472.23, under the proposed budgeted revenue change.

The presentation summarized how property-tax collections are allocated across local entities, noting Cache County, Cache County School District, mosquito abatement and other taxing entities. Wells said the city has seen growth — about 55 new homes from 2022 to early 2024 — and that the city has chosen to “hold our rate” so that future new-growth revenue will benefit Wellsville. He also walked through planned uses and needs that factored into the budget conversation, including an approximately $35,000 study by JUB to evaluate aeration and capacity in the city’s sewer lagoons, sidewalk funding shortfalls (the council currently budgets about $25,000 per year while a single sidewalk project cost roughly $34,000), sewer repairs and infiltration work, playground maintenance (roughly $18,000 was spent in recent years), and capital work related to the fire station.

Wells said the city is planning to hire a part-time planner and estimated the cost at roughly $30,000 to $45,000 depending on hiring decisions. He emphasized the council’s intent to “ask for the same amount” by holding the rate while allowing growth in assessed value to increase total revenue.

During the hearing, Chad Lindley of planning and zoning suggested staff include concrete examples for homeowners — for instance, showing what a $400,000 home would pay under different scenarios — to help residents understand how the two elements (rate and assessed value) combine to affect bills.

A city staff member who said they had experience in a treasurer’s office urged eligible older residents to check the state and county low-income property tax relief, referencing the homeowners’ tax-credit/low-income abatement form often listed as TC90CY on Cache County materials. That staff member said the program is available to permanent residents meeting age and income thresholds and advised qualifying residents to apply; the speaker noted the income eligibility threshold changes annually and cited an example figure mentioned in the hearing of $42,623 as a recent comparative benchmark.

After public comment and discussion, a councilmember moved to adopt Resolution 2025-0-07. The motion was seconded and passed on an affirmative voice vote. The council also approved the meeting’s amended agenda earlier in the session.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-0-07 (increase property tax budgeted revenue by 0.99% over last year, excluding new-growth revenue): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. The staff presentation said a $583,000 residence’s Wellsville tax would increase from $256.84 to $259.73 (+$2.89/year); a $583,000 business would increase from $466.98 to $472.23 (+$5.25/year). The resolution number was confirmed by staff after a presentation slide showed an incorrect number. - Approval of amended agenda (procedural): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: City officials said the small increase in budgeted tax revenue — combined with the decision to hold the city’s tax rate — is intended to preserve current service levels and fund capital needs while channeling new-growth revenue to the city. Staff highlighted immediate needs including sidewalk repairs, sewer-lagoon assessment and repairs, playground maintenance and planning capacity.

What’s next: The council signed the resolution at the meeting. Staff indicated upcoming hiring for a part-time planner and continuing work on sewer-lagoon aeration design and sidewalk capital planning.