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NL Council Quizzed over Proposed Property Taxes
By Gina Anderson
Apr. 3, 2025 12:00 am
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
On March 25, 2025, a special meeting of the New London City Council was held to take citizen questions and comments on the proposed property tax levy for the coming fiscal year, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Several questions were asked and comments made by the citizens in attendance. They touched on the following:
- High wages in 2023 for the police department: The city clerk explained that this was due to the loss of a full-time officer and the other officers making up the hours as overtime for the last two and a half years.
- Employees’ health insurance costs and, if the employees paid any of the premium: Mayor Miller stated the employees do not pay any of the health insurance premiums. The City has a health insurance policy that was grandfathered in under the Affordable Care Act. To switch the policy now would result in higher premiums for the City and employees with less coverage.
- Was the “Statement to Owners and Taxpayers” and the “Notice of Public Hearing Proposed Property Tax Levy” required by the State of Iowa misleading to citizens? The city clerk cited one example where that could be the case: The statement/notice showed the City tax rate for fiscal year 2026 would result in an 11.22% increase to residential property taxes. This percentage included a 10% increase in the assessed value of a residential homes, which is set by the county assessor. The city clerk wanted everyone in attendance to know the City’s tax rate for fiscal year 2026 is $13.11240, which is down from fiscal year 2025 at $13.26249. Also, if the statement/notice had not included a 10% increase in the assessed value, residential property taxes for the City would only increase 1.14%.
The meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m. At 6:37 p.m., a special meeting of the New London City Council was held with an approved agenda. Having no old business, the council addressed new business. They took the following actions:
- Approved April 14, 2025 at 6 p.m. as the public hearing date for the proposed budget for FY July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
- Approved the engagement agreement with Ahlers & Cooney as the bond counsel and disclosure counsel for the proposed issuance of not to exceed $1,220,000 general obligation capital loan notes.
- Approved resolution #451 directing the acceptance of a proposal to purchase $570,000 (dollar amount subject to change) general obligation capital loan notes.
The council discussed with the public works director Mike Phillips Jr. the options to repair the cracked sanitary sewer pipe on Toothache Drive that is causing a sinkhole. The options include excavation, lining the pipe, and use of Cues Lock structural repair sleeve. They approved purchasing two Cues Locks for $3,500.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. The next regular city council meeting is April 14, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the city office.
