08/04/2025
Who doesn't love lower taxes?!
An exciting update from the Mayor's Desk (Sean A. Wilson - Mayor)
Community Update: Property Tax Relief and Economic Growth in Waynesville
Good morning! I have some fantastic news to share with our citizens. Despite the trend of rising property taxes, the city of Waynesville has received an update from the Missouri State Auditor regarding our property tax rate. To put it simply: increased assessments will lead to lower property taxes for homeowners.
Thanks to responsible fiscal management and the active participation of our community in local economic growth, the City of Waynesville's general revenue tax levy has been reduced, providing real relief for property owners. This reduction would not have been possible without the Subdivision Improvement Plan (SIP) and the new housing developments throughout the city. Our valued partners have played a crucial role in increasing our assessed valuation. Building a community starts with people, and more housing is essential to this process. A larger workforce facilitates future growth, including expanding our business community and creating job opportunities, which will help attract even greater possibilities. Development takes time, but we are moving in the right direction.
What Changed?
- Prior Year Tax Rate Ceiling: $0.6306 per $100 of assessed valuation
- Current Year Tax Rate Ceiling: $0.5864 per $100 of assessed valuation
- Maximum Authorized Levy (per Missouri Hancock Amendment): $1.0000
This means that through our efforts and initiatives, the city lowered the general revenue tax rate. That's a win for taxpayers and shows our commitment to conservative, efficient use of your tax dollars. (Handcock Amendment requirement).
Growing Community = Lower Rate
- Prior Year Assessed Valuation: $82,484,024
- Current Year Assessed Valuation: $91,278,315
- Reassessment Revenue Added: $15,084 (What the city receives)
As our city grows, so does our assessed property value. This means more homes, more families, and more shared responsibility. A broader tax base allows us to fund essential services without raising your individual tax rate. In fact, more homes mean more people sharing the financial load, which results in lower costs per homeowner. It’s proof that growth can benefit taxpayers rather than hinder them.
What This Means for You:
✅ Lower city property tax rate on your 2025 property tax bill
✅ Same quality city services (like public safety, parks, and infrastructure)
A Quick Look: Waynesville Tax Levy
Current Year Prior Year Current Year
Assessed Value $82,484,024 $91,278,315
Tax Rate (per $100 AV) $0.6306 $0.5864
General Revenue Collected $520,144 $535,228 (+$15,084)
We will continue to work hard to build infrastructure, improve services, and promote healthy growth, all while protecting your tax dollars.
A follow-up article will provide more detailed information on how all of this works, along with an infographic coming soon.
With the recent improvement of our ISO rating from a five to a four (which may lead to lower insurance rates for businesses) and the decrease in the property tax levy, the city of Waynesville has much to celebrate.
Thank You for Supporting a Stronger Waynesville!
