The Independence City Council set the 2022 preliminary tax rate at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21 with a 3.2 percent increase. That 3.2 percent increase amounts to $96,705 increase over the 2021 budget.

The city council unanimously approved the 2022 preliminary general fund budget at $3.43 million with an accompanying maximum levy increase of 3.2 percent. The city will finalize the budget at its truth-in-taxation meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The levy can be lowered but cannot be raised after the preliminarily tax levy is set.

“We have time to refine our budget between now and the end of the year when we have to certify the actual tax levy and we always do go back and try to look at anything, but what we are establishing tonight is the max tax levy that we will be able to levy against the properties in the city,” Independence city administrator Mark Kaltsas said. “We are able to do that while having a slight decrease in our overall tax rate in the city.”