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How the proposed 7.581 millage would affect Garden City homeowners
Summary
Finance staff showed most developed residential properties would see similar or lower combined charges than last year because the prior fire protection utility charge is removed, but some homeowners—especially without homestead exemptions—would see increases (examples ranged up to $1,300/year).
During the public hearing, Finance Director Katie Dreggar outlined how the proposed 7.581 millage would redistribute revenue previously collected as a fire protection fee into the property tax calculation and how exemptions affect household bills.
"Of the 2,200 properties that we have in Garden City that are residential, only 1,700 are developed," Dreggar said, and she gave an average home value ($214,000) and an assessed/taxable-value example that, after local exemptions, reduced taxable value significantly. She said 1,000 developed properties would pay less under the new millage-plus-no-fee arrangement, while other properties would pay more.
Dreggar presented ranges for residential changes: some households would see tiny increases (the lowest cited at 18¢ per year) and others larger ones (a stated highest increase of $1,300 per year for particular cases), with the average increase among those who pay more estimated at about $146 a year ($12 per month). She and council members urged residents to use the sign-up sheet so staff could calculate exact impacts for individual addresses.
Residents raised concerns about low-income households and seniors who may have limited ability to absorb even modest increases; officials pointed to homestead and Stevens Day exemptions as key mitigants and offered assistance applying for exemptions.
