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Kirkwood Council approves tax-rate adjustments after assessed-value decline
Summary
Council approved multiple ordinances adjusting tax rates after the Board of Equalization reduced assessed valuations by $8.2 million; staff said residential rates did not change while several commercial-class rates rose modestly to maintain revenue.
The Kirkwood City Council approved ordinances on Sept. 18 to adjust several tax rates after staff reported an $8,200,000 drop in the city’s assessed valuation following the Board of Equalization.
Mary, the city’s chief administrative officer, told the council: "What happened is the assessed value after the Board of Equalization met... it went down by 8,200,000, and then that increased the rate..." She explained the change was intended to hold revenue at the same base. Mary outlined example adjustments for certain classifications: general government from 25 to 26.2, police and fire from 12.2 to 12.7, and parks from 13.2 to 13.9. She said residential and personal property rates did not change.
Council members asked for clarification about which classes were affected and whether the adjustments were within voter-approved limits. Mary and other staff indicated that personal property is at the maximum but the other categories remain below voter-authorized caps. After council discussion, ordinances including the substitute bill tied to tax-rate changes were approved on final reading by roll call.
The council also advanced a separate substitute ordinance addressing the municipal library district tax, which staff said mirrors the earlier rate adjustments for commercial classifications; the library tax ordinance passed on final reading as well.
Councilmembers signaled the changes were technical adjustments intended to preserve the city’s revenue base after valuation changes rather than new, discretionary tax increases.
