Ankeny City Council Approves Property Tax Rate Decrease

Press release from the City of Ankeny:

March 24, 2021

The Ankeny City Council approved a decrease to the city property tax levy for the FY 2022 budget on Monday. This is the eighth consecutive year that the Ankeny City Council has lowered the property tax rate. The new budget will go into effect July 1, 2021.

The FY 2022 budget for Ankeny is comprised of operating expenditures totaling approximately $112 million and capital improvement expenditures of $38 million. These expenditures amount to a total budget of nearly $150 million. The FY 2022 budget supports the City Council’s goal to upgrade essential infrastructure while exercising financial discipline.

The $150 million budget reduces the property tax rate from $10 to $9.95 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 $6.05 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.

“A strong local economy and continued record-breaking growth are factors that impact our budget each year,” said City Manager David Jones. “Ankeny continues to see a high level of investment, even during the pandemic. The City is able to meet the service and infrastructure demands while being able to simultaneously lower the tax rate eight consecutive years.”

The budget includes the addition of 8.12 new full-time equivalent employees to help meet growth-based needs for services. The new positions for FY 2022 include: two police sergeants, fire lieutenant, code enforcement officer, facilities maintenance superintendent, two part-time administrative permit clerks, city engineer and equipment operator. The budget supports improved maintenance for annual programs and the older parks renovation plans. It also supports several large capital improvement projects including the Albaugh Family Senior Community Center, High Trestle Trail extension and overpass, West First Street Widening Project and NW 18th Street extension.

The City’s FY 2022 budget includes a 9% increase in water usage rates and a 3% increase in service availability charges, effective April 1. Solid waste rates will increase 44 cents per month, however both sewer usage and service availability charges will have a 6% decrease per month beginning July 1. The storm water utility will increase the maximum ERU for commercial, industrial and multi-family from 50 ERU to 60 ERU. With all factors considered, an owner of $223,700 home will see a decrease of $8 each year for City services. A $1 million business owner can expect to see a decrease in costs of approximately $54 a year 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. As of this current fiscal year, to follow is the breakdown by percentage:

• 44.66% - Ankeny Community School District
• 25.70% - Polk County
• 3.99% - Broadlawns Medical Center, DMACC, DART, Polk County Assessor, Polk County Ag Extension and State of Iowa
• 25.65% - City of Ankeny

The Ankeny City Council held four meetings to discuss the FY 2022 budget, all of which were open to the public. More information about the FY 2022 budget can be found on the City of Ankeny website: https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/our-city/budget.

This press release was produced by the City of Ankeny. The views expressed here are the author’s own.