In my last column, I encouraged everyone to remember that we have countless individuals – your neighbors – addressing “ongoing” concerns and desired services for our taxpayers.  
As your mayor, I am once again asking each of them – as well as you – to partner together to offer “something that works,” to not only improve our city, but also “cultivate” community.
Lots of work has been done these past several months to address our 2025 budget. Our local media outlets have done a really nice job of covering our efforts. My office, along with the council and clerk-treasurer, will continue to listen to our constituents and work with our department heads to finalize a budget that works – providing public services for our growing city while also maintaining a steady tax rate.
Like you, we know market forces have resulted in property assessments increasing at a record pace. In the end, this means overall property tax payments have been rising for everyone over the past several years. Again, we are listening and doing everything we can to keep the tax rate in our jurisdiction low.
The record over the past decade shows that we have been able to maintain and keep our rate steady. For example, the rate in 2015 was 1.2291 per $100 of property value. The rate for this budget year was set at 1.2197. We are working hard to make the property tax rate for 2025 at or near these amounts.
Remember, local governments do not control changes in the free market. However, we do determine annual spending for services to improve living, working and playing within our jurisdiction. Wise and appropriate spending, while at the same time promoting policies that will encourage residential, commercial and industrial development, will continue to keep the property tax rate steady and low for all taxpayers.
I want to publicly thank the members on the common council, our clerk-treasurer, department heads, community stakeholders and the taxpayers we serve for partnering together during this budget process to offer “something that works” for our city and the surrounding community.
This weekend, we will have another opportunity to witness “Neighbors Serving Neighbors while Cultivating Community.” I want to thank our local media for a second time in this column for covering these two events. I am highlighting them again for everyone:
First, Oakwood Cemetery and the Kosciusko County Historical Society will present “A Walk Through Our Past” on Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery. A dozen prominent citizens (our former neighbors) who are interred at Oakwood and contributed to the development and growth of our community will be recognized. Guides will lead attendees along a route that will honor these individuals. Local actors will be stationed at each gravesite to present a short synopsis of that person’s contribution to our community. This is a free event. I will personally be attending the 10 a.m. session before heading over to Central Park for another free event.
Secondly, the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory is celebrating their 20th anniversary for “Family Safety Day.” This event is also on Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Park. This free event will showcase emergency services, encourage social and emotional well-being, and also have over 40 vendors available to attendees. See you there!
This column “… from the Mayor” will provide brief updates, the sharing of opinions, establishing vision, identifying priorities and offering potential solutions for residents in our community. You may contact my office via email at [email protected] or by phone at 574-372-9595.
Your Neighbor,
Jeff R. Grose
Mayor of Warsaw