Branson/Tri-Lakes News: Branson property tax, service rates headed up

SBJ Staff

Posted online August 31, 2008 | 11:00 pm

The Branson Board of Aldermen on Aug. 25 approved an increase to the city’s property tax levy and gave a first-round nod to higher water and sewer rates.

The city will see a 0.062-cent hike to its property tax levy in fiscal 2009, resulting in a levy of 51.55 cents per $100 assessed valuation, according to a news release. That amounts to about $1,606 on a $200,000 home, city spokesman Jerry Adams said.

The increase is necessary because the city’s assessed valuation fell by $23 million this year compared to last year, the release said.

The city also is requesting a 5 percent increase in water rates and a 15 percent increase in sewer rates. The new rates would be implemented in the October billing cycle.

The city is three years into a five-year plan to move away from subsidizing the water and sewer fund with funds from the tourism and capital improvement tax, the release said.

The board will have a second reading on those increases at its Sept. 8 meeting.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Aug. 27 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.[[In-content Ad]]