Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Highwood council sets preliminary 4.9% tax-levy estimate for 2025
Summary
The Highwood City Council voted to set a preliminary tax-levy estimate that contemplates a 4.9% increase for the 2025 tax year; final levy will be set after statutory valuation figures and December approval.
The Highwood City Council voted Oct. 21 to adopt a preliminary tax-levy estimate that contemplates a 4.9% increase for the 2025 tax year.
City staff told the council the 4.9% figure is an estimate that, when combined with property-growth figures from this and last year, could move the effective increase “much closer towards 0” once the EAB numbers are released in March. The staff member said the estimate is intended to provide full funding of the police pension, maintain fire-pension funding above 90%, fulfill a library funding request and remain on par with the contract for Highland Park Fire and Emergency Services.
The resolution is an initial step; council members said the final levy rate must be approved in December after the city receives the official valuation numbers. The council approved the measure by roll call vote: Bauer — Aye; Hansen — Aye; Fiore — Aye; Peterson — Aye; Mark Fitzs — Aye.
Council members and staff emphasized the procedural nature of the vote. A city staff member repeated that the figure is an estimate and that the EAB numbers (scheduled to arrive in March) and the December formal levy adoption will determine the amount taxpayers ultimately pay.
The council did not waive further readings on the matter in the recorded discussion; the item will return in final form in December with updated valuation numbers and the statutorily required adoption process.
