PLEASANT HILL CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LARGEST PROPERTY TAX LEVY DECREASE IN 21 YEARS

“The unanimously approved budget focuses on the City Council’s commitment to public safety and meeting the growing needs of all City departments to continue to provide a high quality of life,” Mayor Sara Kurovski said. “We met this goal while also reducing the property tax burden of our residents. I want to thank Council and City staff for their hard work throughout this process. This budget serves as the roadmap to Pleasant Hill’s continued growth.”

Monumental public safety improvements that had been previously delayed several years are now included in the approved budget. These improvements include a new public safety facility, renovations to the current facility, one additional full-time police officer, and the replacement of an ambulance.

This approved budget includes significant capital improvement projects to shape the future of the City. These priorities include continued construction on the Southeast Connector to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Highway 65. This year’s construction for the project focuses on the reconstruction of N Pleasant Hill Boulevard and Vandalia Road, raising the roads out of the floodplain and consolidating two railroad crossings into one signalized crossing. Meacham Drive will be extended west of NE 70 street, as a parallel, local road to E University Ave. This will open nearly 50 acres for economic development. Youngstown Trail will be extended nearly one mile to connect more Pleasant Hill neighborhoods and nearby cities via the Gay Lea Wilson Trail.

The City of Pleasant Hill receives approximately 28 cents per $1.00 of paid property taxes. The remainder of property tax revenue is paid to either Southeast Polk School District or Des Moines Public Schools, Polk County, Broadlawns Medical Center, Des Moines Area Community College, DART, Polk County Assessor, and Polk County Agriculture Extension. Polk County Assessor evaluates property values on odd numbered years. The next valuation occurs this year, 2019.

Four public meetings were held to discuss the City of Pleasant Hill’s budget.