City taxes will be lower than estimates

Woodbury residents are receiving information about their estimated property taxes for 2009 in the “truth-in-taxation” notice being mailed by Washington County during November.

However, as a result of more than $750,000 in cuts to the proposed 2009 budget, city taxes for all properties will actually be lower than the estimated tax listed on the notice.

“The estimated city taxes shown on the notices from the county are based on a preliminary tax levy, adopted by the city council in mid-September,” said city administrator Clint Gridley. “Reductions to the budget made by the council in October have reduced the city tax increase to one percent or less.”

City taxes on a single-family home valued at $302,700 — the average value for taxes payable in 2008 — will increase by approximately $8 next year, according to finance director Tim Johnson. The change is a 0.9 percent increase, with city taxes rising from $905 to an estimated $913. The calculations assume that the home experiences a 0.3 percent increase in value.

The current estimate of an $8 tax increase for the average value home compares to estimates in September of a $47 hike in city taxes for that home.

Johnson also noted the city tax bill for many property owners will remain the same or even decrease in 2009.

The November-December edition of the City Update newsletter, mailed to all homes and businesses on Nov. 14, contains tax projections that are based on the recent reductions to the budget and tax levy. Additional information is available on the Woodbury Web site at www.ci.woodbury.mn.us (click on “City Budget” under the City Government heading).

A public hearing on the proposed 2009 city budget is schedule for Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Woodbury City Hall.

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