By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met earlier this week and held a public hearing on their Maximum Property Tax Dollars for the upcoming fiscal year. The total tax levy represents a 12.66% increase from the previous year and Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt provided some reasoning behind that.

The total tax levy in the amount of $5,351,633 was approved without objection.

The council also discussed an application from Clow Valve to the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s High Quality Jobs Program. The company is planning a major expansion to their Oskaloosa iron foundry on 17th Avenue East with an estimated construction cost of nearly $70 million. The application to the IEDA’s High Quality Jobs Program, which in this case incentivizes job retention for the planned upgrades, requires a local match, which will come in the form of a 10-year tax abatement estimated to total $1,157,142. The exemption will occur after construction is completed. The resolution approving the application was passed.