It’s budget season for municipalities across Iowa, and due to a law passed last year at the State Legislature, the process is a little different.

Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson says the Legislature reasons that this change makes the budget process more transparent, though he says at the same time it has made it more complicated. To straighten out some of the confusion, Peterson explains the difference between the proposed maximum property tax levy rate and the final levy. “The new publication we have to do lays out our proposed maximum levy rate. However, that maximum property tax levy, on the form that the state gives us, is not all of our property tax levy. In reality, that spreadsheet that the state provides us to fill out does not include our debt service levy and a few other voted levies. So that doesn’t exactly give the full picture of what our property tax levy will be. So you’ll see that maximum property tax levy one time, and then when we publish and certify our budget you’re going to see another property tax levy.”

Peterson points out, the initial levy Perry residents will see is just over $15 per $1,000 assessed value. The actual levy will end up being $17.93 per thousand. He says that’s an increase over last year, but emphasizes that was caused by things the City can’t control, like rising insurance rates. A public hearing on the initial maximum property tax levy will be held Tuesday, February 18th, during the regular Perry City Council meeting. To learn more about this and other City of Perry topics, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Peterson.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/02/04/lets-talk-dallas-county-2-4-2020-sven-peterson/