Ark Valley News - Park City proposes small tax increase

Park City proposes small tax increase
By Taylor Messick
Last Updated: June 29, 2017

On June 27, the Park City council unanimously approved a property tax mill levy increase of just over 1 mill for the 2018 city budget.

A recent state-imposed property tax lid put a cap on mill levy increases and does not allow city councils to raise property tax revenue more than the consumer price index without a public vote. Currently, Park City sits about $80,000 below that mark; one mill is about $70,000. With a number of questions about how the economy could be affected by new policies over the next few years, council members felt it would be wise to take advantage of the extra wiggle room.

"I do think we should take advantage of the $80,000," said Mayor Ray Mann. "We had the opportunity to move the mill levy up before the tax lid got put on so that we could improve streets and increase wages; we made the decision not to do that. I think we need to take advantage of the money we can capture this year and I believe we need to have a workshop to see how we can apply that. The following year we will probably have to sit down and look at a mill levy increase through an election."

The council backed Mann's sentiment and expressed concerns about future expenses that this increase could potentially help with. Council member Gary Aldrich was worried about the status of the city staff's health care and thought it might be a good idea to prepare for the possibility of the loss of the staff's current health care plan depending on legislation from the federal government. Council member George Capps also noted that city staff has not received a wage increase for a couple of years.

"The people who work at public works and here in the office have gotten passed over the last couple of years," said Capps. "I'm concerned about their wages and I think it's time they came to the table. We've already taken care of the police and others; now it's time to treat everyone fair."

An increase of one mill will amount to about $10 to $15 in additional property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Further discussion on the proposed budget will take place July 11 before a public hearing and final vote.

In other business, the council:

•Heard an election update from finance director and city clerk Daniela Rivas. The special election for Ward 3 will take place Aug. 1.

•Authorized the execution of taxable industrial revenue bonds for Tect Aerospace project with a unanimous vote.

•Authorized the issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds to Massco with a unanimous vote.

•Approved a resolution issuing temporary notes, series 2017-1 with a unanimous vote.

•Approved a gravel exception to the city's street design criteria allowing a partial concrete/gravel roadway connecting a proposed new commercial build to 69th North with a unanimous vote.

•Elected representatives to attend the League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference with unanimous votes.

All members of the council were present. There was no executive session taken.