Chapter VII.
TAXATION

Section 7.1. Taxation by Ordinance. The council shall provide in the Code for the annual assessment, levy and collection of city taxes. Council may provide for differential taxation based upon differences in kind or level of services provided within service areas established by ordinance.

Section 7.2. Exemptions. The power of taxation shall never be surrendered. No exemptions from taxation shall be allowed, except such as are expressly provided by law. Private leaseholds, contracts or interests in land or property owned or held by the United States, the state or its political subdivisions, shall be taxable to the extent of the interests.

Section 7.3. Assessment Day. The taxable status of property shall be determined as of the first day of January, or such other date as may subsequently be required by law, which shall be the assessment day. Values on the assessment roll shall be determined according to the facts existing on the assessment day for the year for which the assessment roll is made, and no charge of the status of any property after that day shall be considered by the council when acting as a board of equalization. Standards of appraisal shall be followed by the council when established as a board of equalization.

Standards of appraisal shall be followed by the council when established by law.

Section 7.4. Security for Taxes on Real Property. The city shall have a first lien upon all real property against which taxes are assessed for the taxes and any collection charges, penalties and interest which may accumulate thereto, which lien shall continue until the taxes are paid.

Section 7.5. Protection of City’s Real Property Tax Liens. The city may protect its lien for taxes upon real property by sale at tax sale, or by purchasing the real property at any tax sale or other public sale, or by direct negotiation with the owner. Any such procedure shall be deemed to be for a public purpose. When the city has acquired an interest in real property to protect a tax lien thereon, the owner of any interest in such real property may redeem the same by paying the delinquent city taxes and all accrued charges, penalties and interest thereon. After the city has held any tax delinquent real property for one year, it may hold the same for public use or sell it at public auction to the highest bidder.

Section 7.6. Security for Taxes on Personal Property. City taxes on personal property shall be a debt to the city from the persons to whom they are assessed. If any person to whom such taxes are assessed fails or refuses to pay the taxes, or if the collecting officer reasonably believes that any person will not pay such taxes, the taxes and accrued charges, penalties and interest may be collected by a personal action in the name of the city against the person to whom assessed in a court of competent jurisdiction, or by distraint and sale of any personal property of the person assessed. Neither of the remedies herein given shall be exclusive of the other at any time.