BonnerSprings.com

To keep the mill levy as is or to raise it was a main point of discussion during Tuesday night’s Bonner Springs 2011-2012 budget workshop, which focused on next year’s general fund expenditures.

The mill levy was tied to a discussion about property valuations, which city manager John “Jack” Helin reported were down 5 percent, making for a decrease in next year’s budget of $100,575. It was also tied to a look at next year’s street maintenance project budget, which is expected to be $140,000 — a $37,783 decrease from the 2010 street maintenance budget.

Helin said there were ways the council could choose to handle both the decrease in valuations and the street maintenance project through the mill levy and with the help of a power point, he offered up the following options:

• Accept the property tax revenue reduction of $100,575 and keep the mill levy at the same rate as 2010, which is currently 29.065 mills.

• Add $100,575 from the general fund to the street maintenance project budget and increase the mill levy by 1.684 mills.

• Add $58,172 from the general fund to the street maintenance project budget and increase the mill levy by .974.

Based on current valuations in Bonner Springs, one mill generates $59,734 for the city.

Helin said option two would only raise the average home-owner’s property tax a small amount. But though option three would also mean a raise in the mill levy, home-owners wouldn’t see any increase in their taxes because the already lowered valuation on their home would balance out the higher tax rate. Taxpayers would simply pay the same amount as they did in 2010, he said.

Helin said he recommended option three, as it wouldn’t hurt the taxpayers any but would also mean more funds going into the street maintenance budget.

• More of this story can be found in the July 15 issue of The Chieftain.

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