The Ankeny City Council approved a decrease to the city’s property tax levy as part of its FY 2023 budget approval on Monday. This is the ninth consecutive year the Ankeny City Council has lowered the property tax rate. The new budget will go into effect July 1, 2022.
The FY 2023 budget for Ankeny is comprised of operating expenditures totaling approximately $133 million and capital improvement expenditures of $25 million. These expenditures amount to a total budget of nearly $158 million. The FY 2023 budget supports the City Council’s goal to upgrade essential infrastructure while exercising financial discipline.
The $158 million budget reduces the property tax rate from $9.95 to $9.90 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value; the 5-cent reduction is in the debt service levy. Ankeny property tax rate ranks 4th lowest in Polk County, after Sheldahl, Alleman and Mitchellville. Ankeny’s general fund levy of $6.15 per $1,000 of assessed value remains the lowest of any sizable city in Polk County and is significantly below the $8.10 statutory cap.
“Despite a number of factors suppressing revenues and increasing the City’s costs, the City Council approved a budget that maintains essential service levels and reduces the overall property tax levy,” said City Manager David Jones. “The budget addresses staffing levels, invests aggressively in capital projects and sets the stage for continued growth.”
The budget includes the addition of 14 new full-time equivalent employees to help meet growth-based needs for services. It also supports adjusting pay scales for all employees and incorporates new union contracts. The new positions for FY 2023 include: three firefighter/paramedics, two police officers, budget analyst, adult services librarian, digital marketing specialist, recreation coordinator, engineering technician, IT technician, civil engineer, equipment operator, and a civil/environmental engineer. The budget focuses on improved maintenance for annual programs and it supports several large capital improvement projects including: the Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well No. 1 Replacement; West First Street Widening; NE 36th Street Construction – Interstate 35 to NE Four Mile Drive; NW 36th Street Widening – NW Ash Drive to North Ankeny Boulevard; and the SE 3rd Street Area Trunk Storm Sewer Improvements.
The City’s FY 2023 budget includes a 6.75% increase in water usage rates and a 3% increase in service availability charges, effective April 1. Solid waste rates will increase 43 cents per month. However, both sewer usage and service availability charges will have a 3% decrease per month beginning July 1. Storm water utility rates will not change, but the maximum ERU for commercial, industrial and multi-family will increase from 60 ERU to 70 ERU. With all factors considered, an owner of $240,100 home will see an increase of $42 for City services. A business owner with a property assessed at $851,500 can expect to see an increase in costs of approximately $437 annually for City services.
The City of Ankeny receives approximately 26 cents of each dollar paid in property taxes. There are eight other entities that collect revenue from those who pay property taxes in Ankeny. Following is the breakdown by percentage:
• 44.93% - Ankeny Community School District
• 25.82% - City of Ankeny
• 25.29% - Polk County
• 3.96% - Broadlawns Medical Center, DMACC, DART, Polk County Assessor, Polk County Ag Extension and State of Iowa
The Ankeny City Council held four meetings to discuss the FY 2023 budget, all of which were open to the public. More information about the FY 2023 budget can be found on the City of Ankeny website.