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Ruston council adopts 2026 property tax levy amid resident questions about calculations
Summary
Council held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance 1594 to set the 2026 property tax levy at $751,243.84. Councilmembers discussed how the statutory formula accounts for new construction and county calculations; a resident requested clearer explanations and per‑$1,000 impact estimates.
The Ruston City Council on Nov. 18 adopted Ordinance 1594, setting the city’s 2026 property-tax levy. The ordinance, approved after a public hearing and by a 4‑0 vote, raises the levy by the maximum amount allowed under state law (1% plus new construction adjustments) to a projected total of $751,243.84 for 2026. Councilmember Jensen addressed an email from resident Mary Anne Bell questioning the levy math and explained that Pierce County’s levy certification process accounts for new construction additions and other adjustments computed by the county treasurer.
Mary Anne Bell had asked the council to provide simpler background information and an estimated dollar impact per $1,000 of assessed value; she suggested the council consider forgoing the roughly $10,676.82 increase in light of resident strain. Council responded by outlining the statutory process and the rationale that modest annual increases help offset inflation and rising costs. The council approved ORD 1594 during the meeting so the certified ordinance could be transmitted to Pierce County by the Nov. 30 deadline.
