During policy and planning following regular business Tuesday, the Pella City Council will discuss the total maximum property tax rate. Iowa Code requires cities to hold a public hearing to set that number annually, and that hearing will take place on February 21st — Tuesday’s session will be to review its current status.

This Tuesday, the council will receive details about potential impacts to the maximum rate, which includes inflation, cuts from the Iowa Legislature, new proposed property tax legislation that limits taxable valuation growth, higher than normal wage increases for the city’s workforce, and the integration of Pella Community Ambulance and the subsidy required for operations.

The maximum levy rate is not what the Pella City Council is obligated to charge — it’s a limit, according to the memo, and the upcoming budget process later this month into March will determine what the final levy rate is, which hasn’t changed in 20 years at $10.20 per $1,000 of valuation.

Tuesday’s Pella City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Pella Public Safety Complex and can be viewed online.