That rate is projected at $20.10 per $1,000 of taxable value.

That’s down from the current levy of $20.42 per $1,000 of taxable value.

City Manager David Fierke told the City Council Monday that the property tax rate reduction would save the owner of a $100,000 house about $18.

After months of work by staff members and the City Council, local officials are poised to conclude the budget-writing process and get the spending plan approved by the end of March as required by state law.

-City of Fort Dodge graphic

The council had its final budget workshop Monday night at which Fierke presented an overview of the figures.

The proposal calls for spending $143,026,634.

The biggest segment of that spending is the category that government budget writers call proprietary finances. Those are the programs that are paid for with fees for services rather than taxes. That includes water, sanitary sewer, solid waste collection and to a smaller degree storm sewers. That category totals about $61 million in the proposed budget. The city’s water and sanitary sewer systems each have a proposed budget of about $12 million.

Other spending categories include:

• $14 million for public safety

• $11 million for community and economic development

• $10 million for debt service

• $7 million for public works

• $6 million for health and social services

• $5 million for culture and recreation

• $2 million for general government

The property tax reduction was made possible in part because the city is reducing its levy for support of the 911 dispatching center. The Webster County government plans to assume full responsibility for that center.

While that move might increase the county’s levy, it enabled the city to cut 53 cents from its levy.