The Clarion City Council moved to take the final steps and approve the 2021-2022 budget at their March 23 meeting last week.
The approved budget for the upcoming year (which was published previously in the Monitor) sets the city tax rate at $17.75 per $1000 of taxable property value. That is a slight decrease from last year’s rate of $17.90. The levy rate for ag land is about $3.00 per $1000, about the same as last year’s rate.
Clarion’s tax rate is now in the middle of the major cities in the county. Belmond’s proposed rate is $17.36 per $1000 while Eagle Grove’s increased from $17.25 to $18.13. Councilmember Andy Young who has helped with the budget over the past years noted that this is the fourth year in a row that the city’s overall tax rate has decreased.
The city tax rate of $17.75 means that people will pay about $1,001 in city taxes on a home valued at $100,000 (after next year’s property tax rollback).
In budget highlights, City Administrator Clint Middleton reminded residents that even though the council had previously approved the levy rate going above the maximum in a hearing at the previous council meeting, that rate did not include all levies. In sum, the city tax rate is indeed decreasing.
Middleton said that the rate was able to go down thanks to a few factors, including insurance rates not increasing too much. He did note though that the public safety levy has grown as wages have increased in that department.
Regarding their debt schedule, which includes things like loans and bonds, the city will be paying $1,078,276 for various long-term projects over the next year. Added to the schedule in the last year was debt for the water main project.
Other notable areas that the city is budgeting for include work to the cemetery and replacing the roof on the Depot. The city is also planning for a fuel farm at the airport, which would allow for easy storage and dispensing of aviation fuel. Middleton says this would potentially be covered up to 90% by FAA funds.
Middleton also highlighted some other budgeted for items including: pool upgrades, lighting at Lion’s Park, some street equipment, a new camera system for the police station and upgrades for the ambulance department.
Overall, the administrator feels like the city is in a good spot as they look toward the next year. He predicts that the city will be close to breaking even when it comes to where they are starting and outstanding balances. Young added, “I appreciate everyone in the city that contributes to the small-town quality of life we love.”
