Council sets tentative 2026 tax levy after public questions about transparency

Lebanon City Council voted to set a tentative tax levy as it moves toward a final hearing Dec. 29, after residents and the treasurer urged clearer public outreach about the levy’s limited effect on a homeowner’s total tax bill.

The council’s treasurer, identified in the meeting as the city treasurer (Speaker 6), recommended a 3% increase to the city’s levy, saying the change would generate roughly $8,300 in additional revenue and — averaged across the city’s 2,280 taxable parcels — would amount to about $3.67 per parcel. “As you can see, that generates an increase of about $8,300,” the treasurer said while walking the council through levy options and the limits that keep a single increase below 4.9% without additional hearings.

A resident (Speaker 11) opened public comment by asking how the city missed Truth in Taxation notice requirements and urging greater website transparency about levy information and city-hall planning documents. “I just feel we as a public, we don't see anything on the website,” the speaker said, asking whether the council had approved architects or contractors for the city-hall project.

Council members and staff explained county multipliers, exemptions and the timing of final rate-setting, cautioning that the dollar impact residents see now is an estimate. An attendee noted the county does not set final tax rates until March and that multipliers can change the ultimate rates. “Taxing districts are submitting the levies now…but the county doesn’t set the final tax rate until March,” one participant said.

Speaker 3 moved to adopt the 3% levy option (discussed as the $287,000 levy figure during deliberations); the motion received a second and passed on roll call. The treasurer said she will pursue additional county data and an educational resource that can be posted on the city website and suggested linking residents to the county tax portal so homeowners can see their own bill breakdowns.

The council also discussed how to avoid social-media misinformation by posting a plain-language explanation and a county link. The treasurer said she will work with staff to prepare an educational webpage or mayoral letter explaining the estimate and noting that the levy affects only the city portion of a property tax bill.

The council scheduled a special meeting on Dec. 29 for the final levy hearing so the adopted amount can be transmitted to the county within its filing window. The hearing and any final vote will be public and follow the statutory deadlines.