Politics
Hawthorn Passes 1.8 Mill Property Tax Levy for Infrastructure
Hawthorn residents face a property tax adjustment of 1.8 mills under the new levy approved at the July 7 council meeting.
How we reported this
The Hawthorn City Council voted 6-1 on July 7 to enact the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy, a policy that raises local property tax rates by 1.8 mills to fund road and bridge repairs within city boundaries. The measure applies to all residential and commercial parcels assessed by the county tax office starting with the 2027 billing cycle.
Timing tied to regional comparisons
Other municipalities in the same metropolitan area adopted similar levies last year at rates ranging from 2.1 to 2.4 mills. Hawthorn officials reviewed those enacted ordinances and budget documents before finalizing the lower rate, according to the council's meeting minutes. The policy document states the levy will generate an estimated $4.2 million annually based on current assessed valuations.
City residents will notice the change on their annual tax statements, where the new line item appears alongside existing assessments. For a median-valued home of $285,000, the added cost equals roughly $51 per year, while owners of larger commercial properties will pay amounts scaled to their square footage.
Allocation details and next steps
The legislation directs 70 percent of proceeds to pavement resurfacing contracts and 30 percent to bridge inspections and minor replacements. Procurement records show the city already lists three upcoming projects on Maple Street, Oak Avenue and the River Road overpass for the first round of work.
County tax collection begins in January 2027, with the first payments due by March 31. The city clerk's office will post quarterly expenditure reports on the municipal website, listing each contract awarded under the levy.
Residents can request a review of their individual assessment through the county assessor by December 15 if they believe the valuation used for the new levy contains an error.