Oronogo residents to pay slightly more for sewer, slightly lower tax rate

The Oronogo Board of Aldermen approved a 2% increase in the municipal sewer rates and a decreased tax levy during a regular meeting Monday.

The sewer base rate will increase from $16.39 to $16.72. No one appeared at the Aug. 25 public hearing.

There were also no comments on the same night during a public hearing about the tax levy.

The new tax levy is $0.2319, compared to the current rate of $0.2584 per $100 assessed valuation. Likewise, the levy for the street fund is decreasing to $0.1107 from $1.1239.

Total assessed valuation for 2025 is $40,651,280 compared to $34,133,850 last year.

The new rates are expected to generate $100,000 in revenue for the general fund and $30,000 for the street fund. A year ago, revenue estimates were $90,000 for the general fund and $28,000 for the street fund.

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On other matters:

• The board passed a resolution recommended by Police Chief Steven Weaver to have Oronogo participate in the Missouri Blue Shield Program.
• Weaver reported the property at 319 E. Central has been cleaned up and that he has received a $500 bid to clean up the vacant lots at Fourth and Central streets.
• He also reported on officers’ interactions with students at the Truman schools. They simulated a crime scene and had the kids work the case. Officers also filled in for absent grandparents on Grandparents Day.
• One DWI arrest was made by officers participating in the statewide Saturation Saturday.
• Public Works Superintencent Tony Cantrell reported that the city has been reimbursed $6,759 by Sparklight for damages during installation of the fiber optic cable. Reimbursements are also expected for the repair of street bumps.
• The board voted to release a bond to Schuber Mitchell Homes, which it had placed to ensure completion of a sidewalk and erosion project in the Greystone subdivision. Completion has been verified by the city and Olsson engineering.
• The annual financial interest disclosure ordinance for city officials was approved.
• Mayor Charles Wilkins complimented City Clerk Cyndi Jennings for her ongoing efforts to deal with billing software complications. Jennings reported working 43 hours of overtime in August, while her assistant, Sasqua Crawford, logged 35 overtime hours.