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All property tax money officially spent
By Ashley Vasquez
The Smithville Board of Aldermen officially spent all of the 2007 property tax money on various infrastructure projects as it originally promised.
The board voted 4-0, with aldermen Todd Justice and Kelly Edwards absent, to approve the second reading of a budget amendment officially allocating $525,000 in 2007 property tax revenues toward projects.
Aldermen Jake Hild, who was against the previous board’s property tax reinstatement last year, said he was overall pleased with how the funds were spent.
“I see the need for the tax, and I feel we spent the money very appropriately,” he said. “City staff put together a plan the exact way I would have done it.”
Included in the property tax expenditures is $187,050 for the engineering and design of the Woodland Avenue sewer project and main lift station basin; $149,015 for the Amory Road reclamation project; $88,935 for the Hawthorne Street engineering and design; and $100,000 for a payment on the 2005 Liberty Road improvement project.
The board grappled over the last several months on how to spend the property tax money. The previous board voted in August 2007, in a 4-2 vote, to reinstate an old property tax as it was allowed to by law up to 44.8 cents. The levy has been on the books for several decades but had been set at zero for 17 years. The board cannot raise the tax above 44.8 cents without a ballot issue. The board also promised to only use the funds for infrastructure projects.
During work session prior to the April election, the board, by consensus, had agreed to put the money towards the Woodland Sewer project, which is expected to cost upwards of $1.9 million.
This past two months, the board decided only to expend funds for the engineering of the project and put funds toward Amory Road and Hawthorne Street instead. It is unclear when construction on the Woodland Sewer project or the Hawthorne Street improvements will be funded or begin. The only project property tax money was spent on that will see full construction will be Amory Road.
George Spengler, a resident on Hawthorne Street, had presented more than 30 signatures from his neighborhood to the board in hopes of seeing his street repaired.
“We realize it takes time,” he said. “We are all just glad that the ball is now rolling for us. We didn’t expect to see improvements this year but to have the engineering under way is a great first step. I am pleased.”
City administrator Gerry Vernon said engineers
were now working on most if not all of the proposed projects and he expected construction on the Amory Road reclamation project to begin this fall and be completed before winter.
In other city business:
The Smithville Board of Aldermen also approved other routine measures at its regular board meeting Tuesday, June 3. Here is the breakdown:
- The board approved a bid for $131,814 for new accounting hardware and software to better monitor city finances.
- The board approved a fireworks permit for John Sweeney.
- The board also approved the second and final reading of a new site plan ordinance, which includes provisions for lighting restrictions for commercial developments.
Smithville Editor Ashley Vasquez can be reached at 532-4444 or ashleyvasquez@npgco.com.
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The board voted 4-0, with aldermen Todd Justice and Kelly Edwards absent, to approve the second reading of a budget amendment officially allocating $525,000 in 2007 property tax revenues toward projects.
Aldermen Jake Hild, who was against the previous board’s property tax reinstatement last year, said he was overall pleased with how the funds were spent.
“I see the need for the tax, and I feel we spent the money very appropriately,” he said. “City staff put together a plan the exact way I would have done it.”
Included in the property tax expenditures is $187,050 for the engineering and design of the Woodland Avenue sewer project and main lift station basin; $149,015 for the Amory Road reclamation project; $88,935 for the Hawthorne Street engineering and design; and $100,000 for a payment on the 2005 Liberty Road improvement project.
The board grappled over the last several months on how to spend the property tax money. The previous board voted in August 2007, in a 4-2 vote, to reinstate an old property tax as it was allowed to by law up to 44.8 cents. The levy has been on the books for several decades but had been set at zero for 17 years. The board cannot raise the tax above 44.8 cents without a ballot issue. The board also promised to only use the funds for infrastructure projects.
During work session prior to the April election, the board, by consensus, had agreed to put the money towards the Woodland Sewer project, which is expected to cost upwards of $1.9 million.
This past two months, the board decided only to expend funds for the engineering of the project and put funds toward Amory Road and Hawthorne Street instead. It is unclear when construction on the Woodland Sewer project or the Hawthorne Street improvements will be funded or begin. The only project property tax money was spent on that will see full construction will be Amory Road.
George Spengler, a resident on Hawthorne Street, had presented more than 30 signatures from his neighborhood to the board in hopes of seeing his street repaired.
“We realize it takes time,” he said. “We are all just glad that the ball is now rolling for us. We didn’t expect to see improvements this year but to have the engineering under way is a great first step. I am pleased.”
City administrator Gerry Vernon said engineers
were now working on most if not all of the proposed projects and he expected construction on the Amory Road reclamation project to begin this fall and be completed before winter.
In other city business:
The Smithville Board of Aldermen also approved other routine measures at its regular board meeting Tuesday, June 3. Here is the breakdown:
- The board approved a bid for $131,814 for new accounting hardware and software to better monitor city finances.
- The board approved a fireworks permit for John Sweeney.
- The board also approved the second and final reading of a new site plan ordinance, which includes provisions for lighting restrictions for commercial developments.
Smithville Editor Ashley Vasquez can be reached at 532-4444 or ashleyvasquez@npgco.com.