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Smithville sets 2025 property tax levy at 0.3607 after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing and staff presentation on valuations, the board adopted an emergency ordinance fixing the 2025 city property tax levy at 0.3607; aldermen debated whether to lower the maximum rate given service funding tradeoffs.
The Smithville Board of Aldermen adopted an emergency ordinance setting the 2025 property tax levy at 0.3607 after a public hearing and two readings.
City staff explained how county valuations and a state calculator produce the maximum levy; using the state-set residential assessed value of 19%, staff gave a hypothetical showing a $300,000 home (with an 8.4% market increase) would see roughly a $1.71 annual increase in city property tax under the calculation. "That rate again is 0.3607," the presenter said during the packet review (presentation and examples shown in the staff slides).
Aldermen debated whether the city should adopt a lower levy than the calculated maximum to reduce immediate taxpayer impact. One member urged future review once both counties’ official numbers are available so the city could consider lowering the rate; others cautioned that cutting the levy could force reductions in general fund services, noting property tax revenue contributes to public safety budgets.
The ordinance (Bill 3078-25) passed on a 5-1 roll call after the second reading. The council scheduled no further action at this meeting; staff will post the final calculations and continue to answer jurisdictional questions.
