News
Public forum on city’s levy leaves residents confused
Scott Wagar
10/14/2014
Bottineau’s city council held a public meeting on Oct. 6 for the possibility of increasing its tax levy by 16 percent in the 2015 city budget.
The total budget for the 2015 city budget is at $6,518,296, which is an increase of $1,450,386, or 28 percent, from 2014’s total budget.
The general budget and special levy funds will remain the same from last year at 77.08 mills.
However, the value of the mill from 2014 to 2015 has increased by 16 percent. Due to the increase of over 10 percent, or $3,000 from the true or full value of the assessment from the previous year, a public meeting must be held by state law.
A small number of Bottineau residents attended the hearing and asked questions about how this summer’s valuations by Vanguard Appraisals was conducted on their property and how it played-in with the current issue concerning the mill levy.
It was explained by the city how Vanguard Appraisals conducted its valuations, but no information was granted as to whether the valuations would make their taxes go up or down concerning the appraisals.
This left Bottineau residents in the forum confused as to why no one knew how the appraisals would affect the mill levy and their taxes.
However, the city did add that the city was uncertain what would take place with the 16 percent increase because the city will not have any answers until the county, school district and park board have all held their public meetings (the county and school board have already held their meetings), only then will the city know what will happen with the city levy.
With no more questions, the meeting was closed.