JACKSON INCREASES LIBRARY TAX LEVY

JACKSON, Mo. -- When the Jackson Public Library lost more than $10,000 last year because its reduced tax levy triggered a reduction in state funding, the city helped out with $30,000 in aid.

Now the Jackson Board of Aldermen has restored the library's tax levy to 13 cents per $100 assessed valuation, which library board president Ken Ruff says should make the library eligible for increased state funding beginning next July.

The library tax levy is paid only by Jackson residents who live within the boundaries of the library district, which includes only about half the land within the Jackson city limits. The rest of the residents are served by the Riverside Regional Library.

In increasing the library levy, the board voluntarily decreased the assessed valuation for parks, cemetery maintenance, the municipal band and general revenue 1 cent each from the ceiling authorized by the state auditor.

The new rates are 12 cents for the parks, 0.7 cents for cemetery maintenance, 0.7 cents for the municipal band, and 61 cents for general revenue, for a total of $1 per $100 assessed valuation. The amount is 4 cents below the ceiling set by the state auditor.

The tax levy for Jackson residents living outside the public library district is 87 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

Ruff said the loss in state aid occurred when the board, in an attempt to lower taxes, reduced the library's levy from 13 cents to 12 cents in 1998-1999.

Because the minimum mandatory tax base for receiving certain state grants is 13 cents per $100 assessed valuation, Ruff said, the library lost as much as $13,000 in state aid last year.

Neither the city nor the library board was aware of the effect of the reduced levy.

"It would not have been changed had we known it would have a negative effect," Mayor Paul Sander said.

In other business:

* The board approved an ordinance instituting one-hour parking on the west side of Court Street and two-hour parking in the rest of uptown from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Police will issue warning tickets to violators beginning Sept. 1 and will begin enforcing the ordinance Oct. 1.

* The board, with the approval of the Missouri Department of Transporation, reduced the speed limit in front of the Jackson Middle School from 45 mph to 35 mph.

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda

7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21

City hall

Public Hearings

Held hearing to consider the proposed General Revenue, Parks and Recreations, Cemetery and Band Tax Rates for 2000 as proposed to be set by the mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Held hearing to consider the proposed Library Tax Rate for 2000 as proposed to be set by the mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Action Items

Power and Light Committee

Accepted the audit report for the year ending last Dec. 31, as prepared by Beussink, Hey and Roe, Certified Public Accountants.

Passed an ordinance establishing and approving the 2000 Tax Rates.

Accepted the bid of Penzel Construction Co. Inc. of Jackson in the amount of $63,166.60 relative to the replacement of a reservoir cover at the water treatment plant.

Authorized a contractual agreement with Penzel Construction Co. Inc. relative to a reservoir cover replacement under the 233,000-Gallon Ground Storage Reservoir Project.

Accepted dedication of an ingress-egress easement from Erma L. Johannes.

Approved an easement abandonment and accepting a rededication of a general utility easement from Marway Development Co.

Street Committee

Approved an application for an Original Package Liquor License with Sunday Sales for American Retail Services, L.L.C., at 1402 Old Cape Road.

Approved an ordinance establishing one- and two-hour parking designations in the City of Jackson.

Approved an ordinance revising and establishing new handicapped parking designations for the City of Jackson.

Authorized a contractual agreement with the Presbyterian Church of Jackson relative to the use of the church parking lot for off-street public parking.

Set a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. to consider the rezoning of property addressed as 4881 Old Cape Road East, From C-2 (general commercial) to R-2 (general residential) as submitted by Alan Amtmann.

Accepted dedication of temporary construction easements from Tim and Edna Estes and Leon and Lorene Burger.

Amended the Speed Limits Schedule Schedule V by adding new speed limit designations for Independence Street.