By China Cassidy The Holbrook City Council held a public hearing last week to discuss the fiscal year 2021 primary tax levy. No members of the public were present, so the city council read the ordinance passed by residents in 2019 levying a primary property tax based on property valuations located within the city, because the rates changed slightly from .5115 cents to .5022 cents per $100 valuation. Councilmen Mike Nilsson asked for clarification for residents on how that works. Chief Fiscal Officer Randy Sullivan explained, “Last year when the tax passed, we had to work it a little bit different because it was a new tax. So, we took the base rate of $1,000 and then went backward into it to calculate the valuation.” Sullivan explained that the .5022 rate is based off the property tax assessed by the county. He said that because the city can only collect on the amount assessed by the county, it results in a decreased rate, but because of the increase in assessed property value by the county, it will result in a higher overall collection. Soltis further explained, “For example, on a $100,000 house, the tax would be $50.22, 22 cents more than last year.” Councilman Nilsson clarified once more, “Just so I have this correct, people aren’t going to be paying more property tax, they’re going to be paying about the same. Our values went up, but our rates went down.” Both Soltis and Sullivan confirmed that was correct. In other business, Councilman Tim Dixon thanked Manager Soltis for the work put into switching waste management services. “Larson Waste was getting ready to increase their rates by about $10 and we actually saved money. I know everyone is looking at figures and saying, oh the rates are increasing. Well, they would have increased a lot more if we hadn’t gone with Waste Management.” Because the sanitation department’s expenses exceed the revenues, Soltis said it is necessary to raise the rates. “The fee covers administrative costs billing, handling customer issues, green waste pick-up and transfer station costs.” If the proposed rates are passed, it will result in a new rate of $13 for administrative costs on top of the $12 currently paid to Waste Management, for a total monthly cost of $25 fee for waste pick up, an increase of $7. If new rates were to pass, seniors would still pay the $12 for the first toter but the administrative costs would be $11.70, resulting in a total monthly cost of $23.70. If city expense rates did not increase, seniors would pay $17.34, with the city fee at $5.34 and the Waste Management fee at $12. Proposed waste pickup rate increases can now be found on the city website at ci.holbrook.az.us on the home page, and will be discussed at 6 p.m. at the Thursday, Aug. 13, council meeting. The council approved a proposal by golf course supervisor Steve Rutherford for a used 2014 Toro greens mower in the amount of $13,900, with 2,900 hours. Rutherford said the mower should last for several years. Manager Soltis also informed the public that Larson John, who has been with the City of Holbrook for 42 years is retiring and he and his dedication will be missed. He also noted that the water department received leak detection training on the new equipment and have located the leak on Eighth Avenue. Crews will begin fixing it this week. In other business, Soltis said that he is currently in discussion with the property owner who recently placed a fence in the middle of an access way on the east end of East Iowa Street and that the fence will soon be coming down.
