Swayzee tax levy to go into effect in 2025

Taxes in the Town of Swayzee will be raised next year due to a new tax levy recently passed by Sims Township.
The levy will benefit the Swayzee Volunteer Fire Department.
“Updating equipment is really, I think, their focus, or their purpose behind it, or making changes with the fire department building,” Town Council President Aaron Travis said.
The Sims Township Trustees put the levy into place. The Swayzee Town Council was not responsible for the decision.
“We are a private organization,” said Fire EMS Chief Tyler Bundrick. “We own ourselves.”
Bundrick said that being a privately owned organization is the reason the cumulative fund for the fire department was passed by the township and not the town council.
The tax will still apply to Swayzee residents because the town of Swayzee is located in Sims Township.
“That is a misnomer a little bit, because it has nothing to do with the Town of Swayzee,” Travis said. “Even though we’re going to be a part of paying these taxes.”
Due to the levy, taxes will be raised by about $25 to $35 per household next year.
Bundrick said that he will not give an opinion on the levy one way or the other until he knows more specifically what the funds will be used for.
“I know what the town needs, and that fund would help the town greatly, but with every plus there’s always a downside,” Bundrick said. “And that’s the citizens pay more taxes.”
Town Council Member Rhonda Fagan said that her understanding of the levy is that it can be used for capital developments and infrastructure.
Swayzee residents can expect to be required to pay these increased taxes in May of next year.
“May’s property tax payment will have that increase in it,” said Travis. “So, the taxes that anybody pays in 2025 will have that tax levy.”