CITY RESIDENTS MAY SEE TAX HIKE

THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL BEGAN THEIR OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS WEDNESDAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 WHICH BEGINS JULY 1ST.

CITY DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKED TO REDUCE THEIR NON PERSONNEL LINE ITEM BUDGETS BY FIVE PER CENT. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER BOB PADMORE SAYS RESIDENTS WOULD SEE A MODEST HIKE IN PROPERTY TAXES UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET:

THE COUNCIL APPROVED BUDGET CUTS OF 15-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE PUBLIC MUSEUM AND ALMOST 95-HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE SIOUX CITY ART CENTER WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER 20-THOUSAND IS PROPOSED FOR CITY LIBRARY CUTS.

PADMORE SAYS A VARIETY OF FACTORS ARE CAUSING THE PROPOSED TAX HIKE:



INCREASED RETIREMENT AND PENSION COSTS AND SUBSIDIZING ROAD USE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF STATE FUNDING WERE OTHER FACTORS.

PADMORE SAYS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS STILL 10 PER CENT LOWER THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.