Lamar approves 2027 budget, adopts 13.239-mill property-tax levy

The Lamar City Council approved the city’s 2027 budget on second reading and adopted a 13.239-mill property-tax levy for general operating expenses at its Oct. 26 meeting, as recorded in the council meeting.

The levy equals $13.239 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value under the city levy. It is the city’s share of property taxes, not a combined rate for all taxing authorities. An unchanged mill rate does not guarantee an unchanged city tax amount because the bill also depends on a property’s assessed value.

The mayor said the levy marks the 39th consecutive year the city has operated without increasing its property-tax mill levy. The council adopted the levy for 2027 based on the city’s 2026 assessed valuation of taxable property. The budget ordinance covers the city’s general, utility, public-safety, airport and other funds.

The council also adopted the 2027 rates-and-fees schedule, effective Jan. 1. Before the vote, staff described proposed water-rate increases tied to a previously adopted rate study and parks-and-recreation changes, including daily rates rising by a few dollars, some $49 prices rounded to $50, senior eligibility beginning at age 55, hourly gazebo rentals and four corporate fitness-package tiers. These were proposals; the meeting recording does not establish which details appeared in the adopted schedule.

The city’s posted rates-and-fees schedule still lists 2026 rates, so this story does not state specific 2027 charges.