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City budget holds line on mill levy

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jul 13, 2005

If Tonganoxie City Council members approve City Administrator Mike Yanez’s proposed 2006 budget, the mill levy will remain about the same.

At the council meeting Monday, Yanez presented members with a budget that calls for a levy of 33.513 mills. That compares to the 2005 levy of 33.576.

One mill is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed property valuation.

Council members will meet with Yanez and department heads to discuss the proposed budget in work sessions at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday in council chambers. The special meetings are open to the public.

Although the proposed 2006 mill levy is slightly lower than the current levy, it’s possible some residents will pay higher taxes.

¢ At Monday night’s school board meeting, Tonganoxie school Superintendent Richard Erickson told board members the district’s budget will be prepared late this year, because of the additional time it took for the Legislature to come up with a revised school funding plan.

¢ Erickson said the state department of education’s budget workshop will be held in two weeks, and he anticipates the school district’s budget will be ready to publish in early August and approved in late August.

If, for instance, a person’s home is appraised at a higher value this year, property owners could pay more taxes because of the higher property valuation.

Yanez estimated the 2006 assessed valuation to be at more than $28.6 million. The assessed valuation for 2005 was roughly $25 million.

The general fund, as Yanez proposes, would carry expected expenses of $1,593,516, an increase of $136,992 from fiscal year 2005.

Yanez attributed the increase to such factors as increased population, inflation, replacement and acquisition of equipment for the city’s work force and escalating maintenance costs.