Brownton keeps levy level; one attends taxation hearing

The Brownton City Council voted to not increase its levy for 2018, but one person still came to its truth-in-taxation hearing Tuesday, Dec. 5, to ask about his property tax statement.
Jesse Spaude said the property taxes assessed against his home keep going up each year.
City Clerk Ella Kruse said that while the city kept its 2018 levy at the same level as 2017, the assessed values of property in Brownton rose significantly. The amount of taxes applied to a property is based on its valuation.
Council Member Curt Carrigan said the valuations on the two properties he owns within the city also had significant increases, so he called the county assessor’s office.
“I was told that values across the city increased 30 percent,” said Carrigan. When he did the math, Carrigan said, the valuation on both of his property had increased by 30 percent.
For more from the hearing, as well as action taken during the regular meeting, see the Dec. 13 print edition of The Chronicle.