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The council may adopt the budget after the public comments or wait until its March 8 meeting. The budget is to be finalized and sent to the state by March 15. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
The council cannot increase the property tax rate Hanafan proposed, but it can reduce it.
For the fifth straight year, Hanafan's budget calls for a decrease in the property tax rate. The budget has a total property levy of $17.85 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, down from $17.97 per $1,000.
But state action also will impact how much a homeowner pays in taxes. Iowa has reduced the state-mandated rollback on residential properties. For fiscal year 2011, the state's rollback rate will be 46.9 percent, so residential property owners will pay property taxes on 46.9 percent of the assessed valuation of their property.
COUNCIL BLUFFS — Council Bluffs residents who haven't been paying their trash bills may have a new fine dumped on them.
The City Council on Monday evening will consider an ordinance to fine people $20 if they don't pay their sanitation bills on time.
“It's unfortunate that most of us pay our bills but have to pick up the cost for those who don't,” said Mayor Tom Hanafan.
Sanitation bills are sent out twice each year, Jan. 1 and July 1, for refuse collection and disposal. Residents have until March 15 to pay the January bill and until Sept. 15 for the July bill. After those dates, the payments are considered late.
Currently, there are 5,617 late accounts, according to the city's Public Health Department.
That's why the department has asked the council to consider adding a late fee of $20 to any account paid after the deadline.
An increase in administrative costs for handling excessively late payments also will be considered.
Right now, unpaid fees that are 120 days late are considered delinquent and become a lien against the property. When that happens, a $5 administrative fee is added to the delinquent bill.
The department wants the administrative fee to be increased to $50.
The Health Department also is recommending that the city put a lien on properties that are delinquent twice, rather than once, each year.
“These two actions should create the financial incentive to pay refuse fees on time and dramatically reduce the number of properties that are liened for nonpayment,” said City Health Director Donn Dierks.
Everyone ends up paying more when these late accounts don't do their share, Hanafan said.
“If we don't have that income, we have to raise fees to cover our costs,” he said. “The intent of this is to (get people to) pay fees on time.”
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