Less than a month after raising city property taxes in part because of an anticipated lower-than-normal collection rate, Meadows Place’s delinquent taxes have dropped.

Mayor Charles Jessup said the city was recently told that based on its collection rate, “You wouldn’t even know there’s a recession on and you’re in very, very good shape.”

“That thrilled us,” Jessup said.

The city’s collection rate didn’t look as promising when city budget talks started this past summer. Last month, City Council approved raising the city’s property tax rate by four cents to 83 cents per $100 valuation.

At the time, Jessup attributed the increase to sagging commercial values and an expected below normal collection rate of city property taxes.

The city is owed less than $100,000 in delinquent property taxes, he said.

The city’s delinquent property taxes are at 1 to 2 percent instead of the 5 to 7 percentage that was anticipated, Jessup said.

“People ended up paying their taxes,” Jessup said. “That’s a very big relief.”

But because Jessup believes next year will be difficult financially, he doesn’t regret increasing the city’s property tax rate for delinquent taxes that have actually dropped.

“I think we did a good thing in covering ourselves just in case,” he said.