.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} The Urbandale City Council approved a $38.7 million operating budget March 9 that includes a 10-cent increase in the general property tax levy, raising the property tax rate to $9.32 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

City Manager A.J. Johnson said in a letter to the City Council that the increase represents a new tax to help fund the city’s share of its contribution to the state’s Municipal Fire and Police Retirement program, necessitated by adding four positions in the city’s fire department. Federal funds may be available to add those firefighters or emergency service techs, Johnson said, but to make certain funds were available, the city decided to implement the tax increase.

In keeping with the city’s goal of bolstering its emergency services, another three positions will be added in each of the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 fiscal years.

The city has postponed hiring additional staff in other departments as a result of plans to increase staffing levels in the fire department.

Farmland also will be taxed at a higher rate – $3 per $1,000 instead of the current $1.71 per $1,000 levy.

The budget anticipates the sale of $8.6 million in general obligation bonds for capital improvements, including the construction of the Walnut Creek bridge at Aurora Avenue, paving of Douglas Parkway from 156th Street to the city’s west corporate limit, the paving of Aurora from 128th Street to 142nd Street and constructing Plum Drive from 86th Street to 100th Street. For more information on the Plum Drive project, see story on page 4.

In addition, improvements are planned for 100th between Hickman Road and Douglas Avenue, the Lions Park outdoor restrooms and shelter, Walker Johnston Park tennis courts and Deer Creek subdivision streets.

Other public improvements include:

• Installation of traffic signals at 104th Street and Meredith Drive, 109th Street and Douglas Avenue;

• Trail improvements and construction at 128th Street trail connection to Grimes, Aurora Avenue 92nd Street underpass at North Walnut Creek, Clive trail connection at 156th Street, Northwest Urbandale Drive – Douglas Avenue to Meredith Drive;

• Neighborhood park improvements;

• Merle Hay Road traffic signal interconnect improvements; and

• Purchase of a computer training system to be used at Fire Station No. 42

Johnson said the budget also accounts for a slight increase in revenues from building permits and a decline in hotel and motel tax revenues.

Urbandale’s fiscal year begins July 1.