Morris' tax levy increases, though rate expected to fall thanks to EAV growth

The City of Morris place its annual tax levy on file Monday, increasing the tax levy by 4.72%, though this increase is meant to be in line with the city’s equalized assessed value, or EAV.

This means, according to City Clerk Lori Werden, that Morris residents will not be seeing higher taxes from the city in the upcoming year.

“Last year, our EAV and this year’s EAV did increase by 4.69%,” Werden said. “We are going to increase our levy tax dollars by 4.72%. What this means is we are going to put a rate on file that was less than what we put on last year, because we’re capturing all of this EAV.”

Werden said the city will maintina its tax rate for as long as it can while the assessed values increase each year.

“A couple things to note about our tax levy is 44% of what we levy goes to the police pension, and we funded our police pension by 74%,” Werden said. “That is very significant to note because most municipalities within the state are funded at 50% or less. We’re at a pretty good place to be.”

There will not be a city council meeting again until Monday, Jan. 21., which is when the levy will be up for final approval.