By: Diana Johnsen
djohnsen@kcuatv.com
Property taxes are on the rise in Sioux City, and it's definitely something Crystal Parvu isn't looking forward too.
"In my head I start calculating. It's more but I think we'll be able to make it but it might make things tighter in more ways," said Crystal.
The city is raising property taxes for both residential and commercial, something that hasn't happened in the past four years.
"We've actually cut taxes over the last four years. This is the first year that we've had factors played into increasing taxes," said Bob Padmore, Sioux City Assistant Manager.
For a typical $100,000 dollar home, taxes will rise $45 dollars.
For commercial properties, taxes go up $26 dollars for every $100,000 of assessed valuation.
So why the increase?
The city said the state is asking to chip in more to the police and fire retirement fund.
"We don't set the retirement rates for our employees. It's a state funded pension plan for both police and fire, and those have both gone up. And also, our property tax values haven't grown like they have in prior years also," added Padmore.
The increase in taxes will go into affect starting July 1st.
To save property taxes from going up any more, the city did cut a sergeant position from the Police Department, and it cut the Public Education Officer from the Fire Department.
