Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Prague’s proposed 2025 levy would rise about 10% over 2024; council hears residents’ concerns
Summary
City staff presented a revised proposed levy of $5,313,583 (10.13% over 2024) with an estimated average residential tax impact of 9.47% using Scott County valuations; residents testified about larger individual property increases and asked for county valuation detail; council did not vote on final levy and left formal approval for a later meeting.
City staff presented the City of New Prague’s Truth in Taxation figures for the proposed 2025 budget and levy, outlining department-level increases, grants received in 2024, and the projected tax impact on homeowners.
Josh (city staff) told the council that the preliminary “not-to-exceed” levy set in September was $5,451,715; after adjustments the revised proposed levy before the council that evening is $5,313,583, a 10.13% increase over 2024. Using Scott County data, staff estimated the average residential tax impact at roughly 9.47% for properties with an average taxable value of $312,043.
Staff detailed the largest drivers of the levy change: about $500,000 in increases for the general fund (including compensation-study and insurance costs), a roughly $98,000 rise in debt service, a $166,000 increase in police costs (labor and insurance), and a $270,000 increase in streets (driven largely by a planned dump truck capital purchase). Staff also highlighted that the city and residents received roughly $1.5 million in grants during 2024 that offset some costs.
During the public hearing, residents raised specific concerns. Gary Morrison said two properties he represents on Peralta Street SE showed a 21.5% city tax increase and asked whether that reflected valuation changes or other factors; Josh advised that valuation and homestead-class determinations are handled by the county assessor and that individual circumstances should be reviewed with the county. Brian Paulson and others described steep increases in taxable market values for individual homes and urged the council to scrutinize compensation and capital outlays.
Council members and staff emphasized that the hearing was for public input and that a formal decision on the levy would occur at a later meeting (generally the second meeting in December). Josh said staff would review specific taxpayer questions and encouraged affected residents to meet with county assessors for valuation details.
