Council Review 2-02

Spencer, IA (KICD)--An overview of the proposed 2010-2011 budget highlighted the Monday night meeting of the Spencer City Council.

The proposed budget calls for no increase in the tax levy rate which is $11.72 per $1000 of taxable valuation. Residential homeowners will see an increase in what they pay due to a slight increase in the rollback formula. Due to the rollback a homeowner of a $100,000 home will pay approximately $1.29 per month in additional City property taxes. A commercial property owner will not pay any more in city taxes as a result of the tax levy rate unless their valuation increased due to improvements they may have completed

City Manager Bob Fagen said "in cities of 10,000 or over (there are 34) Spencer has the 8th lowest tax rate and has the 4th 4th lowest debt service levy." The City’s bonding capacity is at about 27% of the legal limit adn they have an A-1 bond rating. Sales taxes returns were down 20-30 percent and taxable valuation increased approximately 2.18% not including utilities. A public hearing on the budget is set for the March 1st council meeting.

Deloss Construction was awarded the 2010 West 11th Street PCC Paving Project at a cost just below $650,000. The bid was approximately 15% under the engineer’s estimate.

A couple items of interest from the Department Head reports include Public Works Director Mark White noting the city has gone through 84 percent of it's snow removal budget and Police Chief Mark Lawson saying there was a decrease in call for service from 2008 to 2009 of 1,500.

Council Review 2-02

CCCF Grant Recipients

Ruthven Mayor Resignation

Library Logo Approved

Peterson Accident

Storm Sentencing

Local Unemployment Data

NWS Flood Warnings

Wild Rose Plight

Habben Appeal

New Storm Lake Council Member

Clay County Bridge Detours

Area Accidents & Arrests

Ruthven-Ayrshire Superintendent Search

Sex Abuse Sentencing

Census Workers Needed