City budget gets nod with small tax askings increase

    Imperial’s city budget for 2021-22 has a slight increase in tax askings, as well as a bit of a drop in the levy after 4-0 council approval last week.
    As part of the budget approval, most city administrators and employees also gained 3% salary or per-hour pay hikes for the coming year. Those came after a separate 4-0 vote approving the wage ordinance.
    Some employees in public works saw even higher increases, according to Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland.
    She said at an earlier meeting those additional increases were given to compete with other entities hiring similar workers.
    In all, Imperial taxpayers will provide $1,251,184 in property taxes to support the 2021-22 budget, which is up about $15,000 from the current year’s $1,236,240.
    The majority of the property tax request supports the city’s General Fund, with $383,594 in bonded indebtedness included.
    The total levy that will be assessed against property in the city limits will be .677192 compared to a tax rate of .697045 that supported the 2020-21 budget.
    The city’s total budget for the coming year will be $20,420,555. The city-owned Imperial Manor and Parkview-Heights encompasses $4 million of that total, according to the budget documents.
    The city of Imperial experienced a 4%increase in its valuation this year.
    The 2021 figure is $184,760,626, compared to the 2020 valuation of $177,354,525. The increase is all due to new growth, said Leyland.
    There were no comments from citizens at the budget hearing Sept. 7, which was left open a half hour.