Othello City Council holds revenue hearing

OTHELLO — The Othello City Council discussed 2007 revenue sources and declared a geographical information systems supplier Monday night.

Finance Officer Mike Bailey presented the information to the council during a public hearing. He noted many of the fund amounts were estimates of the year-end balance. The 2006 ending balance will be put toward the 2007 beginning balance. He estimated the beginning balance of the general fund would be approximately $1.5 million. The total new revenues are estimated at roughly $3.7 million. The two added together makes the total resources approximately $5.2 million.

County Assessor Dave Anderson also presented information on property taxation during the hearing.

He explained the difference between taxing. The city can tax within the city limits, while the county can tax within the city limits and the throughout the county, he added.

"Everyone pays into the county pot," Anderson said.

He said the county can levy $1.80 per $1000 assessed value of property. The city also has their maximum they can tax too. He advised the council of the need for an additional 37 cents to be added to the $1.80.

"(Adding) 37 cents per $1,000 assessed value would be too much," Anderson said. "They'd be over taxed."

He suggested to the council that rather than taxing the additional amount, the city voluntarily reduce the amount they tax by the amount needed by the county. This would allow the county to tax within the city limits for the needed amount, he added.

The county would then reimburse the city dollar for dollar near the end of the year it was taxed.

He said the city and the county would enter into a contract for the year. The two entities have been engaging in this practice for approximately 20 years.

The tax paid to the county supports many services including, superior court, district court and the auditor's office.

There was no motion; the presentation served as information only.

The council approved Yakima County GIS and Northwest Geocultural Consulting as its sole source and supplier of software.

The two companies have served as the supplier to the city for several years.

The software is used for geographical viewing including roads.