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Smithville Aldermen Set 2025 Property Tax Levy Rate at 0.3607; Council Says Rate Is Maximum, Not Required Minimum
Summary
The Board approved an emergency ordinance fixing the city's 2025 property tax levy at a maximum rate of 0.3607, down from 0.3888; aldermen debated whether to set a lower rate to reduce taxpayer impact but concluded cuts to services could follow.
The Board of Aldermen voted to set the city's 2025 property tax levy at a maximum rate of 0.3607, a reduction from the previous numerical rate of 0.3888, after a public hearing and two readings of the ordinance.
City staff presenter Rick walked the board through the state-mandated levy process and showed how rising market values and assessed valuations affect taxable values. Using a hypothetical $300,000 house and a high-end market increase example, staff illustrated how assessed value changes can change tax bills; staff said the hypothetical increase would raise the assessed value in that example to $61,788 and increase city property tax by about $1.71 annually in the scenario shown. City staff said the 0.3607 figure is the maximum rate the city can set for 2025; the city could adopt a lower rate, but doing so would reduce revenues.
Aldermen discussed the trade-offs. One councilmember urged the city to consider lowering the rate after receiving full data from both counties to lessen taxpayer impact; others warned that reducing the levy below the maximum could force cuts to services, noting that property tax revenue comprises a substantial share of core budgets (one alderman observed the amount collected covers roughly half of the police budget). The city's staff-projected revenue figures mentioned in the hearing included $1,076,000 and $1,113,000 under different assumptions; the presenter also stated an internal projection described as "1.205" for the current year as presented to the board.
On the roll call for the ordinance's readings, the recorded vote was 5 in favor and 1 opposed (Alderman Russell). The mayor announced the ordinance as adopted following the roll call.
The ordinance language as read cites RSMo 67.110 and fixes the annual levy on all taxable property within the city for tax year 2025. The board closed the public hearing and moved to the next agenda items. The ordinance will appear in the published minutes and the recorded hearing transcript for the official record.
