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City staff detail assessed-valuation bump and three mill-rate options as commissioners weigh notice to county
Summary
Director Landis reviewed the draft 2027 operating budget: an estimated $164 million assessed valuation (about +4.5%) would produce roughly $315,000 more at current mill rates; staff listed a $814,750 cost increase and offered three mill-rate options (level, +1 mill, +2 mills) to close the gap. The commission directed staff to prepare notices and come back with draft budgets next week.
Director Landis told the commission the city had received an estimated assessed valuation of roughly $164,000,000, about a 4.5% increase over last year, and that under the current mill rate that change would generate about $315,000 in additional revenue for mill-levy supported funds.
Landis said staff calculated a proposed $814,750 increase in operating costs for 2027 across the funds supported by property taxes and outlined three options for the commission to consider: a level mill rate that maintains basic services but would require freezing or deferring some maintenance and purchases; a 1-mill increase to help preserve core services and staffing; and a 2-mill increase intended to maintain current service levels and build reserves required by rating agencies. "The importance of this conversation today is to prepare us for the conversation that we'll need to have next week before that notification is due to the county," Landis said, noting the county notice deadline and the requirement to publish a maximum mill rate and public-hearing date.
Commissioners debated the trade-offs. Mayor Clayton said he opposed a 2-mill increase and asked staff to look for line-item reductions rather than raising property taxes; Commissioner Crowley and others urged staff to prepare a realistic maximum mill rate to publish so the county notice could go out on time. At the meeting’s end, staff said they would return next week with draft budgets, detail on proposed reductions and the procedural items needed for county notification and public hearing scheduling.
