OAKWOOD — Oakwood residents who see their tax bills climb this year can lay the blame mostly at higher assessments.

Oakwood City Council on Monday voted to keep the tax rate the same, for the 10th straight year, at 2.48 mills, with 1 mill equal to $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value.

Money generated by the tax rate will go toward the city’s proposed 2010 budget, which calls for $3.285 million in spending.

The government projects a $120,000 decrease in revenues, or about 3.5 percent, in such areas as the local-option sales and hotel-motel excise taxes.

And the city also expects to cut spending by $300,000, or 9.4 percent, including holding off hiring in three vacant positions: a police officer, receptionist and human resources/finance manager.

City Manager Stan Brown has said despite those budget negatives, the city has seen a 11 percent increase in the tax digest, or list of taxable properties, and the percentage of commercial properties versus residential has increased to 81 percent from 76 percent.

“That continues to be a good trend for us,” he said.

Council members didn’t comment as they unanimously approved the tax rate.

The Oakwood City Council is set to hold a public hearing on the city’s budget Nov. 2. Adoption of the budget is set for Nov. 9.

In other business, the council gave final approval to an amendment to the city’s business license ordinance, requiring those applying for a business license to submit an affidavit stating they are a legal U.S. citizen or a “qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Tax bills will be mailed Dec. 1, with the 2010 budget becoming effective Jan. 1.