Decorah City Council approves 2012-2013 city budget

The Decorah City Council has unanimously approved a 2012-2013 budget that calls for $13 million in total spending--an increase of $251,000 from this year.

Of that $13 million, $3,475,065 would come from property tax receipts.  That's $96,122 more than was collected in 2011-2012.

However, property owners in the city would pay the same mill rate as this year--$12.54 per $1,000 in assessed valuation--so whether they paid more in city property taxes would depend on whether their property assessment had increased.

No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the budget on Monday night.  City Administrator Chad Bird praised the process of putting together the budget, saying, "All the department heads acted very prudently."