Truth-in-Taxation hearings held by area governments are drawing few residents.

On Monday, no one attended the hearing conducted by the International Falls City Council. The council has agreed to levy $1.75 million from city property owners for 2009, which is 15-percent less than the amount collected this year. The levy will help support a $12.1 million budget which must be approved this month.

The Littlefork-Big Falls School Board’s hearing on budgeting and property taxes Monday was brief.

Only one person attended the forum conducted by the district, which has set the 2009 levy at $618,723, an increase of $89,727 over the amount collected this year.

The lone attendee wondered about market value of his property and was directed to the Koochiching County Assessor, according to L-BF Superintendent Fred Seybert.

A number of factors influence real estate market value, including levies of other governments and improvements made to the property.