Peralta exploring possibility of mill levy increase

PERALTA —Peralta officials will be holding a workshop next week to discuss a proposed mill levy increase.

Peralta’s deputy clerk and treasurer Steve Robbins said there is a desire from leadership to bring in additional revenue for public safety, which encompasses police, fire and emergency medical services.

The workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, at Peralta Town Hall, 90-A Molina Road.

At the April 9 council meeting, Robbins presented a proposal exploring a one or two mill levy increase. Based on census data, a one mill increase would lead to an average $70,000 in additional mill levy revenue, and a two mil average would be double that.

While the amount taxed depends on the assessed value of a property, Robbins said, on average, a homeowner would see an approximate $51 increase to their property tax bill per year if a one mill levy were approved. A two mill increase average would be $102.

For a commercial business owner, on average they would see about a $48 increase per year in property tax and about double that for a two mil.

The April 23 meeting will be a public meeting. Robbins said a mill levy increase, and what the revenue would go toward, is ultimately the council’s decision if they decided to move forward with it.

Robbins said at the April 9 meeting if the council were inclined to approve the mill levy increase, they would need to vote on it before the preliminary budget was due in June.