Perry Council adopts final tax rate for fiscal year 2025–26; council directs budget work with that rate

Perry City Council adopted Resolution 2025-11 on June 12, setting the city’s final certified property tax rate for fiscal year 2025–26 at 0.001801.

City staff presented the certified tax-rate options and said accepting the certified rate would avoid a truth-in-taxation hearing. Staff also described how the rate interacts with the tentative budget: the certified rate produces roughly $8,000 less revenue than the tentative budget had projected, while maintaining the current rate as proposed would raise about $65,000 and would require the truth-in-taxation process.

Council and staff discussed the city’s planned use of fund balance and capital reappropriations. Staff said the budget under review would reappropriate about $546,000 from fund balance toward capital projects, lowering the general-fund balance to about 24% from roughly 35% the prior year. Council members raised concerns about the sustainability of drawing fund balance and noted some of the reappropriations were one-time costs (landscaping and the 1200 West north-side project). Staff told the council roughly $500,000 in reappropriations was anticipated, about half of which staff said is covered by grant funding; details were described as included in the updated budget packet.

After discussion a council member moved to adopt Resolution 2025-11 adopting the final tax rate at 0.001801 for fiscal year 2025–26. The council adopted the resolution by roll-call vote; Council member Young, Council member Walker, Council member Osler and Council member Wright were recorded as voting yes. Council member Tueller was not present. The motion carried unanimously among members present.

Council staff emphasized the budget itself will be approved at a later meeting and may be adjusted within the parameters set by the adopted rate.