Five-year levy supporting City library, museum, and parks operations.

Local option levy for the museum, library, and parks

Five-year levy supporting City library, museum, and parks operations.

Local option levy for the museum, library, and parks

5 year Local Option

The city of Independence is seeking a five-year local option tax of $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed value, beginning fiscal year 2025-26, to support operations and maintenance of the City’s museum, library, and parks.  The levy is necessary to continue to operate and maintain the Heritage Museum, public library, and city parks for the next five years.

The Library, Museum, and Parks are funded through June 30, 2025. If the levy does not pass, city staff will evaluate options and make recommendations to the Council, which may include:

  • Reduced Services: This could involve shorter service hours at the Library and Museum, potentially leading to staff reductions at one or both facilities.
  • Facility Closures: The Museum and/or Library may close, which would result in staff reductions at one or both locations.
  • Maintenance Cuts and/or Closures: Reduced maintenance across all parks with possible closure of less frequently used parks.

Operating Maintenance

The City’s operation and maintenance of the museum, library, and city parks are funded from the City’s General Fund, primarily from property taxes and state shared revenues. Historically, the costs of operating and maintaining the museum, library, and parks have increased at a faster rate than the revenues available to support them.  Over the last 10 years, general use property taxes have increased an average of 5% per year, versus costs to operate and maintain the City’s museum, library, and parks have grown an average of 9% per year.  The estimated total combined cost to operate and maintain the museum, library, and parks for the 2024-25 fiscal year is $1,060,000.

The levy tax rate of $1.82 per $1,000.00 of assessed value is estimated to cost the average homeowner the equivalent of approximately $382 in the first year of the levy, and would collect approximately $1.12 million in the first year, with an estimated total of $5.96 million over five years.

5

year option

9%

Increase to operate

$382

First year cost

1.12 M

Collected first year

5.96 M

Collected – 5 years

1 M+

To maintain

Fund Programs

If approved, the levy would fund and support numerous services and programs, which include but are not limited to:

  • Youth Coding League and STEM programming for community teens.
  • Preschool and bilingual Storytime programming.
  • Warming and cooling shelters for the community.
  • Local access to traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian and other national societies.
  • Continuation of the annual Ghost Walk event.
  • Exhibits and programs supporting school groups interested in local history
  • Continued maintenance and upkeep of City parks grounds and equipment.
  • Continued seasonal watering of City parks.

Timeline

August 2024

Levy Resolution brought forth and approved by the city council.

November 2024

General Election – Levy goes on the ballot to be voted on

July 2025

First Implementation of levy fee if passed

Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, no. The city is placing a five year Operating Levy on the ballot(s) in 2024-25 to support the Independence Public Library, the Independence Heritage Museum, and city parks. If passed, this will generate $1.065 million per year and translates to a rate of $1.82/$1,000 assessed value or about $548 per year on a home valued at $300,000. If the levy does not pass, city staff will evaluate options and make recommendations to the Council, which may include:

  • Reduced Services: This could involve shorter service hours at the Library and Museum, potentially leading to staff reductions at one or both facilities.
  • Facility Closures: The Museum and/or Library may close, which would result in staff reductions at one or both locations.
  • Maintenance Cuts and/or Closures: Reduced maintenance across all parks with possible closure of less frequently used parks.

The budgeted costs of operations for the museum, parks, and library for the 2024-25 fiscal year are as follows:

  • Museum – $210,162.
  • Parks – $384,247
  • Library – $559,112

The city’s General Fund is expected to collect $2.7 million in property taxes in 2024-25. These limited funds support the museum, parks, library, and police.

The Library, Museum, and Parks are funded through June 30, 2025. If the levy does not pass, city staff will evaluate options and make recommendations to the Council, which may include:

  • Reduced Services: This could involve shorter service hours at the Library and Museum, potentially leading to staff reductions at one or both facilities.
  • Facility Closures: The Museum and/or Library may close, which would result in staff reductions at one or both locations.
  • Maintenance Cuts and/or Closures: Reduced maintenance across all parks with possible closure of less frequently used parks.

The city will set up a separate fund to record levy receipts and expenditures for the library, museum, and parks. Any monies left over will be retained in the levy fund as the next year’s beginning fund balance.

Bonds can only be issued for capital construction or major equipment purchases.

The levy is for 5 years. To extend the levy it will require another vote.

The levy is $1.82 per $1000 of assessed value, so for a home valued at $250,000 the annual cost would be $455.

These monies will be retained in the General Fund and initially bring the fund balance back up to an appropriate level. Going forward the General Fund will be able to pay for services and address deferred items based on priorities established.