Johnston Wins Praise for Lowering Tax Rate: From the Mayor's Desk

They Said It

From Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfeld

Earlier this year, the Johnston City Council adopted a city budget that goes into effect next week, on July 1. We started the budgeting process this year from a position of considerable strength due to two factors: (1) conservative fiscal decisions made by city officials in the past, and (2) growth in Johnston’s taxable values.

As we developed the city’s budget, we focused on those things that are the city’s primary responsibilities, like police and fire protection, sanitary sewer and roads. What resulted is a budget that includes increased funding in key areas reflecting a strong commitment to meeting our community’s priority needs – public safety, infrastructure and economic development.

At the same time, Johnston taxpayers will see a reduction in their property tax levy by 14 cents, from $11.29 per $1,000 of taxable valuation to $11.15. 

An article posted by the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa on its website last week highlighted how unique Johnston is in its approach to city budgeting. It noted that of the 13 cities in central Iowa that experienced an increase in their taxable valuations, only 5 decreased their tax rates, 6 kept them the same and 2 actually increased their rates from the prior year.  “Johnston, Urbandale and Bondurant had notable reductions” according to the article.

The article goes on to point out that Johnston’s tax rate had the highest overall decrease from its tax rate in the last fiscal year, a reduction of 14 cents per thousand dollars of taxable value. Two tables attached to the article show that Johnston overall has the fourth lowest property tax rate of the central Iowa cities and the second lowest when debt service is removed. 

Thanks to the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa for recognizing the hard work that Johnston elected officials and city staff do each year to keep your property taxes as low as possible while providing the services you expect and deserve from your city government.

To read the entire article, go to http://taxpayersassociationofcentraliowa.org/big-increases-in-taxable-value-yield-few-tax-rate-reduction-by-sam-ward/