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Paul “Andy” Stewart
(Articles are in reverse chronological order)
Tab 11
For the 11th year in a row, the property-tax rate will be unchanged at $4.52 per $1,000 of taxable
property. So the owner of a home valued at $125,000 with a $25,000 homestead exemption
should pay $452 in city property taxes next year. That tax payment does not include property
taxes collected by Polk County, the Polk County School District, the water district or other
taxing authorities.
All employees will receive a 4 percent cost-of-living increase. The last time employees received
a 4 percent raise was for the 2004-05 fiscal year. Employees received 3 percent last year.
In addition to the cost-of-living increase, $119,888 in longevity pay will be divided among some
employees, based on years of service.
Assistant to the City Manager Andy Stewart will have his position reclassified to assistant city
manager, and he will receive a 6 percent salary adjustment.
Green is also reclassifying 13 positions in the Fire Department as a result of a 2005 salary
survey. In addition to the 4 percent raise, firefighters are to receive an additional 2 percent to 6
percent, depending on tenure.
"Firefighters' pay was out of sync when compared to the local job market," Green said. "Of
course, we need to be competitive with our salaries to attract quality employees." Green is also
proposing seven new positions that include a firefighter, two public utilities service workers, a
cemetery worker, a second canine police officer, a library aide funded by the county library
cooperative and a planner position in the community development department. It will cost the
city $196,390 to fund the new positions.
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