Oakley council adopts 0.001 tax rate after brief truth-in-taxation hearing

The Oakley City Council voted to adopt a tax rate of 0.001 for the 2026 fiscal year after a required truth-in-taxation presentation and a short public hearing.

The hearing formalized notice that state law requires when a taxing entity seeks to increase property tax revenue. The presiding official opened the hearing with a presentation explaining certified rates, new-growth allowances and recent changes in taxable valuation, then opened the meeting to public comment and council discussion before taking the vote.

The presentation noted that property valuations in Oakley have increased in recent years and explained the certified rate concept: "So we are here at this time to hold a public hearing with regards to a proposed, tax rate increase. They call that a truth in taxation hearing. It's required by law whenever we, wanna increase the tax revenue to the city," the presiding official said during the presentation. The presenter described how rising valuations reduce the certified rate and how taxing entities may consider allowing revenue increases to capture new growth and to replace levy amounts that have expired.

During discussion, one councilmember said the city previously lacked a capital improvement fund but now has one and supported the rate as a modest increase to address aging infrastructure: "It seems like when I came on the council about 5 years ago, we didn't have a capital improvement fund then or plan. And, we do now. I think we do have an aging infrastructure. We've got things going on that need to be taken care of, and this looks to me like it's a small increase to take care of some pretty big problems," the councilmember said.

Another councilmember voiced opposition to the increase, citing concern for residents already facing high taxes: "I'm always the jerk in the room, apparently. I, yeah, I agree with everybody, but, you know, in the last in the last little bit, I just feel like we've been taxed to death. ... I would sooner not push this 1 through," that councilmember said.

Councilmember Joe moved to adopt the proposed tax rate for fiscal 2026; an on‑record second followed. The motion passed on a voice vote; council members voiced "aye" and one member voiced "nay," and the presiding official announced the motion had passed. The council then closed the truth-in-taxation hearing and reconvened into its regular meeting.

The presenter offered several illustrative numbers during the presentation, including an average home value referenced as $940,000 and discussion of per-household tax changes (an example $27 increase cited when comparing rates), and general figures on valuation growth, but specific line-item budget allocations for the additional revenue were not specified during the hearing.

The council allowed roughly an hour for the hearing but completed the item and the tax vote within about 15 minutes. No formal roll-call vote tally naming individual councilmembers was recorded in the transcript; the approval was announced after the voice vote.

Looking ahead, the presenter and council discussed that new revenue would be available for capital needs and that capturing new growth can fund infrastructure projects; however, no specific spending authorization or project appropriation was adopted as part of this vote.