MARION -- Property taxes in the City of Marion will increase 1.86 percent next year, under a tax levy passed on Monday night by the Marion City Council.
With Mayor Pro Tem Anthony L. Rinella presiding over the board in the absence of Mayor Robert L. Butler, who will be retiring Jan. 31 due to health reasons, the city council approved the tax levy in a 4-0 vote from Rinella and commissioners Angelo Hightower, Jim Webb and John Goss.
City Treasurer Steve Hale told the council that the average homeowner might not actually see a tax increase, depending on the county's annual estimated assessed valuation of property.
"The increase amounts comes to a little over $4 a year on a $100,000 home," Hale told the council.
The total property tax levy will be $1,831,152, an increase over last year's levy of $1,797,751.93.
Hale said the property tax levy goes to fund three city services -- police pensions, firefighter pensions and the recreation fund, which is primarily The Hub Recreation Center.
In a previous council meeting, Hale had reported that the police and fire pensions are being adequately funded, with the fire pensions funded at around 68.5 percent and the police pensions with 56.99 percent funded.
Funding for The Hub is funded out of the property tax levy, with those costs offset by revenue taken in by the city-run gym and aquatics center.
A further picture of the city's finances came in the annual audit report from Gray Hunter Stenn, which showed the city on the right track as it continues to grow.
"We continue to live within our budget," Rinella commented. "This council and previous councils need to be commended on that. We may have to cut things from year to year to stay within the budget. It's not something we want to do. It's just business."
