City administrator Chris Nosbisch clarified some issues with the math in the proposed property tax valuations sent out by Linn County.
In the examples given to homeowners, the second table shows a hypothetical of property taxes in the current year and than a value of increase of 10 percent in the proposed year.
“That notice gives the appearance that the City of Mount Vernon proposed property tax increases percentage of 13.92 percent,” Nosbisch wrote. “The notice assumes the value of the home will increase by 10,000. The State of Iowa does require all real property to be reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years. This being an even assessment year, the chances of a 10 percent increase in the housing value are quite minimal.”
Nosbisch further elaborated, that if the tax table had shown a year to year amount of $100,000 stagnant over four years, it would more accurately reflect the proposed rate increase for Mount Vernon of 3.57 percent, not 13.92 percent. Mount Vernon’s levy rate is only increasing by $0.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation this year.
Nosbisch said that cuts are being made in the city this year. A part-time position at Mount Vernon City Hall will be eliminated. The city will also not be hiring a police officer for several months of the year. Additional wages are being shifted to enterprise funds that can cover them, like wastewater superintendent Alex Voklov’s salary. Water and sewer rates, however, are expected to increase much more than previously expected.
Nosbisch said that the city’s usage of Build America Bonds from 2009 for water and sewer upgrades are impacting some of that increase, as is the proposed $2 million for Phase 2 of the sewer plant operations. Nosbisch was proposing a 12 percent increases for sewer rates this year and 8 percent increase in 2027. Water rates will increase for 3 percent for the next fiscal year. LBC rates are not expected to increase until fiscal year 2027.
The Mount Vernon pool prices will increase this year to pay for lifeguard pay and pool upgrades. Daily admission rates for the pool are increasing by $1 for the year in all categories aside from infants to 2-yearolds which remain free.
Season passes for residents and non-residents increase by $10 across the board, with the exception of adding an additional child increases by $5, which only goes up by $5. Individual season passes for residents are $110, a double pass is now $140, family pass is $170 and adding an additional child is $15. Non-resident passes are now $125 for a season pass, a double pass is $155, family pass is $195 and adding on an additional child is $20.
Water aerobics season pass increases by $15 to $140, a 10 punch card increases by $10 to $80 and daily drop in rate increases by $1 to $9. Pool rental rate increases by $100, now $350. Swim lessons for tadpoles and infants will increase by $2. Private lessons increase by $3 and semi-private lessons increase.