City expects 10-cent per $1,000 tax hike for minimal property tax increase

By KENT THOMPSON
There will be a slight increase in the overall tax levy rate for city of Humboldt property owners next year, but it shouldn’t have an extensive effect on public pocketbooks.

That was the word from city of Humboldt public officials following the Humboldt City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The meeting was one day later than usual in the month, due to the Presidents Day holiday Feb. 16.

According to information presented at the meeting, the total tax levy rate is expected to be just under $16 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, that’s an increase of 10 cents per $1,000 from the current year tax levy. It will amount to a less than $12 increase in city taxes on a home valued at $250,000. Looking over the past six budget years, the average levy rate has been $15.9766, that’s just over two cents less than the levy proposed for 2026-27. While the city’s assessed valuation increased by just over $21 million, to $477,783,278 in the upcoming budget year, the taxable valuation is down, Humboldt City Administrator Cole Bockelmann told the city council.

“It may be surprising to people, it was a little to me, to see our taxable valuation decrease by about $1.1 million from the current fiscal year when the assessed valuations went up so much during the recent reassessment year,” the city administrator said.

He said the reason is because the state has expanded the homestead tax credits and some military tax exemptions.

“We are in pretty good shape from a budget standpoint. We paid down $700,000 in debt this past year and will be incurring no new debt in the coming year. Our debt service levy will remain stable and we have a debt limit as a city of $12 million,” Bockelmann said.

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