New Prague council sets preliminary property tax levy at $5,685,800 and schedules Dec. 1 hearing

The New Prague City Council adopted a resolution to set a proposed 2025 property tax levy of $5,685,800 — a figure staff described as roughly a 7% increase over the 2024 levy — and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 1 to set the final levy for taxes payable in 2026.

City Administrator Josh Tesloff recommended the action while explaining the number is the top-end figure the city must report each September so counties and the state can produce preliminary tax statements. "I would recommend resolution 25 0 9 0 2 0 1, setting the proposed property tax levy at $5,685,800 and then scheduling the public hearing, to set the 20 25 final tax levy for December 1," Tesloff said.

Tesloff and council members emphasized the figure is an initial ceiling used for statutory notice and administrative purposes, not the final levy. The mayor and staff said the number gives the council room to revise the budget and levy downward during subsequent hearings: "This is always set a little higher than it normally comes in just to kinda give us room, and time to really dissect the budget," the mayor said.

A council member moved to approve the resolution and the motion was seconded. The council approved the measure by voice vote; the clerk announced the action as "Passes 4 0." The adopted resolution directs staff to report the preliminary levy to the county and state so preliminary tax notices can be prepared ahead of the December public hearing.

Next steps: staff will continue budget work through November and return to the council for the statutorily required final levy hearing on Dec. 1.