KIMBALL -- Prior to approving the budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the Kimball City Council held a public hearing Wednesday evening regarding an increase in the property tax request. 

The intent of the meeting was to inform the public of the city’s property tax request by more than the allowable growth percentage. 

City Administrator Annette Brower explained at the meeting that a city can increase property taxes by 2% plus any real growth in valuations but must hold a public hearing when requesting a higher percentage than what is allowed.

Kimball’s real growth from this year’s valuations is 2.08% with an allowable additional 2% for a total of 4.08%. 

The total assessed value for the tax year of 2025 is $199,295,737, which is an increase of $19,477,563, or 10.83%.

“To capture the additional valuations and keep the tax levy the same ($0.413259), our property tax request was 50,090, or 6.75%, above that base property allowable,” Brower said. “We could have shaved $50,000 from [the budget], but expenses go up for us too, so it was important for us to have that extra funding in there to help support our library, police department, fire department, and just spread it across our general fund.”

A few community members expressed their disappointment in the increase, especially since the city raised the tax levy last year. 

Gabriel Miller said, “We have major issues with people leaving town … the more you raise taxes, the more families you’re going to lose.” 

Julia Gehrig said: “Let’s take a fiscal conservative look. Our citizens are on a budget, some of them are struggling … We can do better.” 

Mayor John Morrison said: “The city council works very hard. I think everybody that is up here tries to do the best job they can.”