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Property taxes in Dodge City were raised Monday for the third time in as many years.

The Dodge City Commission unanimously approved budget for fiscal year 2008, increasing the mill levy from 45.862 to 48.594.

City Clerk Nannette Pogue presented the commission with the budget, set at $15,555,127. Of the $15 million, $6,021,140 will come from the mill levy.

Early budget talks showed promise of decreasing the levy for the first time in several years. However, a city-sanctioned salary survey revealed that city employees' salaries were close to 20 percent below the national standard.

um yeah, Dodge City's average salary for non-government postions is more than 30% below national average because nobody wants to live here, so it was inline with our city's average income

In an effort to raise the salaries to a competitive level, the city bumped up the mill.

In other words, they gave themselves another raise, and we got demoted. Why not consider the mill levey when attempting to be "competitive"

Pogue said because the increase in property values over the last year was negligible, an increase in the mill was necessary.

Property values failed to increase because of a poor economy. I felt it, you felt it and we tightened our belts and did with less in my household- Not the city, they just raise their percentage to get more of our money, further compounding the hard times we are having.

Bob Lancaster, president of the Depot Theater Company, said he wasn't upset with the city’s decision, even if it wasn't the ideal situation.
“Having attended a budget workshop, I understand how hard it is,” Lancaster said. “I understand with low increases in property valuation, it leaves little room except for increase.”

Am I just stupid or is spending less not an option? That's what I do when I can't make ends meet. This idea is foreign to the money spenders.

Commissioner Terry Lee said he was thankful to both Pogue and the commissioners for their dedication to lowering the mill levy.

“While I’m opposed to any type of mill levy increase, this being due to helping our employees, it’s a tremendous benefit to our city," he said.
The mills fluctuated up and down between 1995 and 2005. The budget then jumped five mills in 2006 and one mill in 2007.

Under the 2007 budget, owners of a $100,000 house would pay roughly $525.67 in property taxes, per year, to the city itself. Combined with the mills from Ford County, USD 443, the state of Kansas and Dodge City Community college, the same homeowner would pay roughly $1,988.30 a year in property taxes.

Under the 2008 budget, owners would pay $557.08 for a house of the same worth.

Dodge City's sales tax ranks higher than towns of comparable size within southwest Kansas. Liberal assesses roughly three fewer mills than Dodge, with homeowners spending close to $498 a year in property taxes to the city.

Garden City's 2008 mill levy remained on level with 2007, assessing close to a dozen fewer mills than Dodge. However, several city services that are included in Dodge's property tax aren't always included in others.

Still Garden City is more responsible when it comes to raising taxes on it's citizens. For them, it's an agonizing thought, for our commisoners, it's an annual ritual

Hutchinson boosted its property taxes during its recent budget meeting.

Homeowners aren't the only ones affected by a jump in property taxes. Those who rent houses and apartments can feel the pressure too, as rent tends to increase as property taxes do.

That isn't always the case, however. Owners and managers of Winchester Apartments Gary and Joann Roth, who did not attend the meeting, said increases in property taxes tend to be felt more by landlords than by tenants.

"Ideally you'd like to think you could raise your rent to match the tax increase," Joann said in a phone interview. "But, Dodge City has so many apartments that we can't really raise the rent. The landlords usually end up swallowing the increase.”

Well wait a minute...You just said earlier in this article that property values have not increased. If you raise rent with no increase in property value, you've just narrowed the gap between renting and owning. Aren't more people going to buy a home as rent skyrockets and property values fall?

The 2008 budget also includes a 10-cent increase in water and sewage rates.

So will we ever see cuts? My employer didn't give raises this year because of high gas costs and higher property taxes. The working man is getting less while government keeps spending like John Edwards in a beauty shop. If my property taxes go up another 16% this year, I am afraid I'll have to take a third job just to pay them. Somethings gotta give. I can no longer afford to finance our commisioners irresponsible spending.