I'll

call us to order.

This is just Monday, December 1st, and this is our truth in taxation meeting, so call us to order.

We're gonna move on to number two on our agenda tonight, and I'm gonna hand it over to our illustrious finance department over there with Marshall Halleck and Tony Schultz.

Well,

thank you.

Appreciate the opportunity.

So tonight is the truth in taxation night.

Um the truth of taxation meeting is part of the state statutory framework around local property tax levies and budgets, and it provides a public an opportunity to engage with the city council on budget or levy any concerns or questions they may

have.

Uh important thing to note is the council will not be taking action on the budget tonight that is scheduled for Monday, December 8, so they have an opportunity to incorporate any input you receive from the public tonight into that final budget and levy, and that's why we're all here this evening.

Good evening.

Uh before we dive into any of the numbers or tax information, we have several very illustrative slides prepared for you tonight.

Um we'll cover just a little bit of background here.

So the 2026 budget development timeline, we started way back in April, uh meeting with various departments, going through budgets internally, um, kind of laying the groundwork for the budget season.

Then we've had several opportunities in a public setting to meet with council and the public.

Um we've done a CIP workshop, we've done at least three, if not four budget workshops, and then several budget updates throughout, receiving feedback each

time.

In September, the council set a preliminary budget and a preliminary levy.

Um this fall, the county mailed out that colorful sheet with the preliminary proposed property taxes on

them.

And then here we are this evening having the public discussion before we adopt a final budget and levy next

week.

So

here's kind of just a little uh calendar, if you

will.

So really 2026 budget started over a year ago.

It this process started with a I'll call it a 2025 property assessment where

the

county assessor determines everybody's estimated market values.

Those are the market values that are used for the 26 property tax collections.

So that is what's behind us.

Then if you look at the yellow arrow there, that's where we

are.

Um all the budget development and we're preparing to approve a final budget and final levy for 2026 property tax collections.

The time has passed to appeal individual valuations for next year's payable collection.

But why we really like this slide is because it does prepare everybody for the future.

There is an assessment that takes place really January 2nd of 2026, is when those numbers become preliminary, and the county uses those January 2nd, 2026 numbers as market values for the 27 payable.

So it's important to note that even though for next year's collections, those valuations have been determined and are final never too early to think ahead towards 27's property tax collections.

So in January, uh you'll get a colored sheet from the county, and that is your 26 assessed value.

That is calculated for your 2027 taxes.

So

if

you want to do any appealing or anything like that, um the time to do that is in early 26 and into the spring.

Sure,

thank you, Joe.

Just to say that again, just so any public person who's gonna be watching this video.

I don't want that to get lost.

Yeah.

So January is when it comes out, and if a person has an issue with their personal valuation, they can take it to the county, not the city, but the county by March.

Is that right?

That's exactly right.

Thank you.

I just wanted to say that again out loud in case anybody lost that in as they're watching.

Thank you.

Yep.

We listed off a few reasons here.

Why might your property tax bill change from year to year, right?

Several of the reasons we've like we've highlighted, like we mentioned, the market value of a property may change.

Every year the county assessor assesses your properties value.