At its meeting on Monday night, the City Council established the 2026 real estate tax rate at 3.4946 mills, a 5% increase from the determined real estate tax rate.

According to the council, this increase will account for future commercial and residential assessment appeals that may lower the city’s total taxable value. The council also voted to retain the services of Sergio Lo Presti of Sammartino, Stout & Lo Presti for commercial property appraisals and Ed Sekerak for residential appraisals. In addition, they voted to retain Jordan Shuber of Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter & Graham as legal counsel.

The council stressed that making this decision was difficult, with it being the longest discussed topic of the night and ultimately passing with a 5-2 vote. Both council member Wendy McCain and Mayor David Wortman voted no to the 5% increase.

Other options discussed at the meeting included no increase to the 2026 Real Estate Tax Rate, leaving it at 3.3282 mills or adding a 10% increase.

The council also stated it can be difficult to determine the final real estate assessment during its first year, and the percentage increase can be changed in the future.