Downing approves levy increase

By Cara L. Dempski

DOWNING — Residents of the Village of Downing voted November 8 to approve a referendum that would raise the local property tax levy to $361 per $100,000 of property value.

Information obtained from the village board indicates the total 2017 levy will be $33,745. Under state law, the annual levy increase is limited to .792 percent of the previous year’s levy. This would result in a $13,745 levy for 2016.

The village asked residents to exceed the allowable levy limit by $20,000 in order to pay for bridge repair and resurfacing on West Boundary Road from Highway 170 to the bridge. The levy money would also be used to complete repairs to the men’s and women’s bathrooms, and replace a window in the municipal building.

The information provided by the village indicates that exceeding the levy limit to the extent requested in the referendum would happen only in 2016. The village board was careful to note that all future levy increases will remain within the current state limit of less than or equal to two percent.

The state calculates levy increase limits based on the amount of new construction and businesses in a municipality. Village records indicate levy increases for Downing over the past few years have been less than one percent.