Editor:
In response to Mr. Malone’s letter in your April 12, 2006 newspaper:
We chose to use the $66,000.00 example because, according to the Linn County Tax Assessor, the average value of property within the city of Sweet Home is $65,163.00. (Total value of all properties, divided by the number of properties.)
Some properties are valued much higher and some much lower. For example, if you have a home that is valued at $100,000 the police levy could cost you $640.00 per year and the library levy, $62.00 per year.
For a home that is valued at $150,000 the Police Levy could cost you $960.00 and the Library Levy, $93.00 per year.
What the levies would cost each property can be determined by looking at each individual property tax statement and the property value.
The tax levies requested for police and library services are renewals. They are not new taxes in the fact that property owners in the city of Sweet Home are currently paying taxes for these services.
The levy renewals on the May 16 ballot, if approved by Sweet Home voters, would not be in addition to what property owners are currently paying. Rather, they would replace the current levies when they expire in June 2007.
Finally, it is important to realize that these levies are currently our only funding source for these services, so it is critical that Sweet Home voters clearly understand the facts in order to be fully informed to vote on these levy renewals in the May 16, 2006 election.
We hope this information helps clarify the fact sheet. If anyone has any questions regarding the levy renewals, please feel free to come by City Hall or give us a call at 367-5128.
Pat Gray
Finance Director
City of Sweet Home
Craig Martin
City Manager
City of Sweet Home