MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — Residents in Merrill are unhappy with a lack of an explanation from the city over an unexpected tax hike that turned out to be more than previously advertised.
Residents had been expecting a smaller increase in their tax bills after a special meeting to approve the city budget. Leaders had pitched the 3 percent figure as the increase in the city-wide tax levy, which is the total amount of property tax dollars the city collects for both residential and commercial property.
Mayor Derek Woellner had previously vetoed the City budget because of his concerns over how much tax rates would go up, saying a 3 percent raise was his target for those with frugal tastes.
RELATED: Merrill Approves Revised 2019 City Budget
When the tax bills arrived in late December, residents found increases of as much as 7% or nearly $100 more than what they paid last year for the city portion of their taxes.
There’s been little to no explanation from the city on why rates went up so much. A letter sent with the 2019 tax bill says there was a decrease in the overall assessed value of the city due to the elimination of machinery as taxable property and an allocation for tax increment financing districts.
City leaders will hold a special Finance Committee meeting Tuesday evening at 5:30 to acknowledge citizen input forms on the matter, then will go into closed session to discuss “review submitted citizen feedback forms related to city employees.”
A City Council meeting will then follow at 7 PM, where recommendations from the Finance meeting will be considered.
The owners of Les and Jim’s Lincoln Lanes are offering a free beverage to anyone who shows up at Tuesday’s meeting to voice their concerns over the hike.
