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[00:00:01]

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, WE'LL CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER.

SHOULD WE DO THE PLEDGE NOW AND LATER, OR JUST.

I WILL DO IT LATER. OKAY. SO LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE.

AND FIRST UP IS CITIZEN'S REQUEST TO BE HEARD.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE A TOPIC THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS? THE TOP, THE COUNCIL OUTSIDE OF THE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

OKAY. SEEING NONE. PUBLIC HEARING FOR A RESOLUTION 26-104 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF COUNCIL

[4.A) Resolution 26-104Resolution approving the City of Council Bluffs Proposed Property Tax Levy for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.]

BLUFFS PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC? GOOD TO SEE YOU, MATT. IF YOU'LL PLEASE TURN THE MICROPHONE ON, SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. WALSH 1514 SKYLINE DRIVE, CITY COUNCIL ASYLUM.

I'M BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR GIVES A CONDITION OF THE STATE OF IOWA.

AND DURING THAT CONVERSATION, SHE MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE IOWA COMMUNITIES WHO HAD INCREASED THEIR PROPERTY TAXES 10%.

AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HER. I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS MISREPRESENTING THAT.

I KNEW OF NO COMMUNITY THAT HAD INCREASED THEIR PROPERTY TAXES THAT MUCH.

LATER ON, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE CHAMBER'S LEGISLATIVE FORUM, DAN DAWSON, SAID THAT THERE WERE COMMUNITIES THAT SLIGHTLY LOWERED THEIR LEVY BUT THEN COLLECTED A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES DUE TO APPRECIATED VALUE, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN OVERSTATEMENT. COUNCIL BLUFFS HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR OF VALUATION INCREASE THIS YEAR OVER 15%, 15.4%, AND THEY REDUCED THE LEVY 1.2%, WHICH MEANS THAT AT THIS PROPOSED LEVY, IT WOULD INCREASE RESIDENT THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS, WHICH IS THE REAL VALUE PROPERTY TAX, A REAL SIMPLE FORMULA, ITS VALUATION TIMES TAX LEVY, AND THEN HOW MUCH MONEY IS COLLECTED. AND AS DAWSON SAYS, A COMMON TACTIC OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO SAY, HEY, WE LOWERED YOUR LEVY, SO WE REDUCED YOUR TAXES, WHEN IN ACTUALITY, THEY'RE COLLECTING MORE TAXES.

THIS LEVY PROPOSES TO COLLECT 14.33% MORE TAXES THAN IT DID LAST YEAR.

THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS COLLECTED 62.5 MILLION LAST YEAR.

THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL IS TO COLLECT $71.5 MILLION AND $8.9 MILLION INCREASE.

I THINK UNPRECEDENTED. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER DONE THAT.

THE ACTUAL COST OF GOVERNMENT GOES UP ABOUT 4%.

AND THESE STATE LEGISLATORS, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE THE POSTER COUNCIL MEMBERS OF BAD GOVERNMENT, I THINK AT 14%. THEY WERE EXAGGERATING A 10% INCREASE.

AND YOU WANT TO DO A 14% INCREASE. I DID A LITTLE BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH.

THE NEW TAX GENERATES $947,309. THE LEVY REDUCTION YOU GAVE THE TAXPAYERS REDUCES THAT $752,530, A 4% INCREASE, WHICH SHOULD COVER COSTS. COST OF LIVING 2.5.

AVERAGE SALARY IN COUNCIL BLUFFS BETWEEN 3 AND 3 AND A HALF.

AND THEN YOU THROW IN A STEP AND GRADE. IT GETS IT MAYBE CLOSE TO FOUR.

I PUT TOGETHER THE EXPENSES BEFORE I LEFT OFFICE.

NOTHING REALLY JUMPED OUT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR AT THAT POINT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INSURANCE COSTS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE INSURANCE COSTS WERE.

BUT AGAIN, 8,947,000. THE SLIGHT LEVY REDUCTION 5 OR 752,000.

A 4% INCREASE WOULD BE 2,502,000, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL PUT IN THEIR POCKETS AN UNNECESSARY TAX REVENUE OF

[00:05:03]

$5,691,967. BACK IN THAT NAPKIN MATH. I BELIEVE YOU CAN REDUCE EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY TAX LEVY ANOTHER DOLLAR $0.60.

AND AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT SO THAT THAT WOULD BE $160.95 PER 100,000 EVALUATION THAT YOU COULD AND SHOULD REDUCE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEP. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS ROBERT DONOGHUE. I LIVE OVER AT 423.

STUTSMAN. COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST ME? THIS INCREASE THEY DID LAST YEAR. SO JODIE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HELP.

OUR CITY CLERK. OH, JODIE IS OKAY. THANK YOU.

JODIE. AND I'M A 70 YEAR OLD GUY, AND I'M ON SOCIAL SECURITY, AND I'M GOING TO ARGUE WITH THE FORMER MAYOR'S NUMBERS ON SOCIAL SECURITY. YEAH, I AIN'T GOING TO ARGUE WITH HIS NUMBERS.

THAT'S. THAT'S WHAT I HAD. I JUST DID IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER.

MY SOCIAL SECURITY WENT UP 2%. MY PENSIONS WENT UP 2%.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN REVENUES OF ABOUT 16%.

HE SAID 15.6. FOR THE CITY PORTION ONLY OF YOUR TAXES.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY. NO, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS LITTLE.

NO, I'M JUST. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT THE CITY PORTION OF YOUR TAXES IS GOING TO RAISE $27.37.

$0.39. $0.39. SORRY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE I'M I'M OVER 65 AND I'M GETTING THE EXTRA HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION.

THAT'S THAT DOES NOT CALCULATED COUNT. SO YOU MIGHT, IT MIGHT NOT.

YEAH. THIS IT MIGHT ACTUALLY NOT BE. 27.39 YEAH.

SO THIS IS STRAIGHT WITH NO EXEMPTIONS. OKAY.

IT'S A 2.8% CHANGE FOR YOUR PROPERTY. STILL, LIKE HE SAID, THE, I'M LOOKING AT THIS, A 2% RAISE IS 1.25 MILLION. IT WENT FROM 63.5 MILLION OR 60 2.5 MILLION TO 71.5 MILLION.

THAT'S $9 MILLION. IT WENT UP. WAS IT WAS THAT MANY NEW.

WAS THERE THAT MANY NEW CONSTRUCTIONS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD? WAS THERE ENOUGH TO ABSORB THAT 9 MILLION? WAS THERE THAT MANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES CONSTRUCTED? THAT WAS JUST A QUESTION. MY, MY ARGUMENTS ARE I'VE GOT AN MBA.

IT SAYS HERE SOME OF THESE ARE DRIVEN BY NEW CONSTRUCTION.

WELL, MAYBE THESE NEED TO BE TAKEN UP IN AN ELECTION AND A BOND ISSUE LIKE [INAUDIBLE] DID OUT THERE WITH THEIR THING.

AND THESE THINGS CAN BE EXPENSED OVER 30 YEARS.

I CAN GO ON AND BUY A MUTUAL TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BOND, AND I CAN GET TWO AND A HALF, 3%, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANY TAX ON THAT. IN FACT, I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY BACK. SO ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED, SHOULDN'T BE THROWN IN WITH THE PROPERTY TAXES.

INFLATION SAYS THE REASON THESE THINGS ARE GOING UP IS BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

WELL INFLATION AIN'T 17%. THAT'S WHAT THIS NUMBER INDICATES GOING FROM 62.5 TO 71.5.

THAT'S THAT'S NEARLY 16%. THAT'S OVER 16% OR NEARLY 16% INCREASE INFLATION.

AIN'T NOWHERE NEAR THAT. AND ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED.

AND THESE SHOULD BE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS. ME, THESE PEOPLE.

AND WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TO GET A BOND ISSUE FOR THIS, THESE NEW CONSTRUCTIONS.

THERE SHOULDN'T SHOULDN'T JUST BE THROWN ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYERS.

I WOULD PREFER IF YOU TOOK THE MONEY AND PUT IT ON AS A SALES TAX OR SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK THE STATE'S GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT.

SO THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY ON IT, BUT I THINK THE FORMER MAYOR DISPLAYED PRETTY WELL THAT THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH AND IT'S OUT OF LINE WITH THE REST OF THE STATE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS KEVIN ABILENE. I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AT 1208 NORTH 19TH STREET.

I CHOOSE TO INVEST MY MONIES IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I MANAGE A RENTAL PROPERTY IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY PLEASE LOWER ALL LEVIES AND TAXES.

IT'S RIDICULOUS THE WAY THEY KEEP GOING UP. THAT SAID, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN.

[00:10:03]

FOR EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY DURING MORNING SERVICES, A FRIEND OF MINE TOOK ILL AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE.

UPON THE ADVICE OF HIS SPOUSE, 911 WAS CALLED.

THE EXPERTS AT THE DISPATCH CENTER HAD HELP AT HIS SIDE WITHIN FOUR MINUTES.

THEY WERE KIND AND RESPECTFUL, ATTENTIVE TO HIS NEEDS AND RESPECTFUL OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

THEY ENCOURAGED HIM TO GET ADDITIONAL CARE AND WERE RESPECTFUL OF HIS WISHES.

I THANK ALL THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

GOOD JOB. ONE OF THE THINGS I DO NOTICE THAT DOESN'T COST A LOT OF MONEY IS SOMETHING THAT MAYOR SHUDAK HAS DONE.

SPECIFICALLY, YOU'VE ENGAGED WITH OTHER REPORTERS, EVEN NONTRADITIONAL INTERVIEWS, TO TRY AND CONNECT WITH THOSE WHO VOTE AND THOSE WHO SHOULD VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS. YOU'VE SPECIFICALLY REACHED OUT ON FACEBOOK AND ISSUED LETTERS STATING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, TRAVELING TO D.C., CONSIDERING HOW TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY, AND WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD WORK HERE. YOU'VE ALSO EXPLAINED THIS LEVY AND HOW 1.2% SEEMS LOWER.

AND I GET YOUR MATH AND I RESPECT IT, BUT STILL, WE'RE PAYING MORE.

SO I LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE DOLLARS COLLECTED IN MANY AREAS, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOWER THE LEVY.

I REALIZE THE YEAR BEFORE WAS WHAT, UP 4.7% AND NOW WE'RE SAYING LOWER 1.2 UP IS STILL UP OVERALL.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GO TO A TENANT AND SAY, HEY, I KNOW I GAVE YOU THE DISCOUNT FOR X, Y, AND Z AND YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD TENANT. BUT BY THE WAY, NOW I HAVE TO RAISE YOUR RENT BECAUSE EXPENSES KEEP GOING UP.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. RATHER RETAIN A GOOD TENANT.

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS. YOU GOT THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO TOO.

AND THAT'S WHY I SEE SO MUCH TURNOVER IN THE RENTAL PROPERTIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

TENANTS CANNOT WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. THEY MOVE ON TO SOMETHING THEY FEEL IS BETTER.

OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MORE ANYWAY, THEY GO BACK TO OMAHA INSTEAD OF THE KIND COMMUNITY THAT I'VE, I HAVE FOUND COUNCIL BLUFFS TO BE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER AS YOU HAVE BEEN, TO CONTINUE TO LOWER ALL THE TAXES AND LEVIES THAT ARE ASSESSED TO ME IN MIND.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

SARA LARSSON, 624 OAKLAND DRIVE. SO I MOVED HERE, I DECIDED TO BUY A HOUSE HERE MOVING FROM OMAHA BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY IN OMAHA. I BOUGHT MY HOUSE WITH MY VA LOAN WITH.

THIS LAST YEAR MY PAY RAISE WAS 1.3%. IT DOESN'T EVEN COVER THE COST OF HOW MUCH MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP THIS YEAR.

GRANTED, THAT'S NOT JUST THE CITY. THAT'S ALL THE OTHER STUFF COMBINED.

BUT STILL, MY PAY RAISES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH HOW MUCH MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP BY YEAR OVER YEAR.

I MOVED HERE BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WITH THE TAXES THAT KEEP GOING UP IN A FEW YEARS, IF THINGS KEEP GOING THIS WAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RELOCATE.

I CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY IN THIS STATE. I WOULD.

I KNOW YOU JUST CAME INTO OFFICE. MAYOR. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I VOTED FOR YOU IS BECAUSE I LOOKED UP THE MAYOR'S SALARY.

AND I SAW THAT THE MAYOR'S SALARY WAS ALMOST $125,000 FOR A TOWN OF 60,000 PEOPLE.

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OTHER ADMINISTRATOR'S SALARY ARE, ARE, BUT I DO NOT SEE WHY OUR PROPERTY TAXES HAVE TO KEEP GOING UP TO BE SUPPORTING BLOATED ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES. IT SEEMS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS TO ME THAT MAYOR OF A TOWN OF JUST OVER 60,000 PEOPLE IS MAKING 125K A YEAR WHEN THE REST OF US ARE WORKING, TRYING TO MOVE UP IN THE WORLD.

OUR SALARIES DO NOT KEEP UP ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT PUBLIC SALARIES DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

BRUCE PIKE. I LIVE AT 203 WINDY HEIGHTS. BEEN AT THAT HOUSE FOR NOW, 27 YEARS.

I TALKED ABOUT LIVING IN A CITY THAT I'VE GROWN UP IN.

FANTASTIC CITY. BUT YOU SEE THE PRICE INCREASES OF WHAT'S OCCURRED AND IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

[00:15:06]

I'VE WATCHED MY BUDGET. WE LOOK AT 100. AT THIS POINT, I THINK I WANT TO BECOME THE MAYOR BECAUSE I NEED A PAY RAISE.

I GOT A 2% PAY RAISE THIS YEAR. DOESN'T COVER THE INCREASE OF TAXES.

WE ALL ARE WATCHING OUR WHAT WE SPEND OUR MONEY ON.

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE IN THIS ROOM. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S THE PRICE OF GAS OR DRIVING HERE ON THE STREETS WITH THE HOLES AND WHATEVER.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A NEW HOUSE. I LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT'S 60 YEARS OLD.

LOVE MY HOME. BUT THIS PRICE INCREASE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND ANYBODY THAT SAYS IT IS ACCEPTABLE SHOULD HAVE THEIR MORALS AND EVALUATIONS EVALUATED. YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR THE STEWARDS OF THE CITY.

YOU HAVE A DUE DILIGENCE TO DO THE BEST FOR THE CITY, AND THIS IS NOT THE BEST FOR THE CITY.

WE ALL WANT TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR CITY, BUT THIS PRICE INCREASE IS GOING TO DRIVE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES OR GIVE TRUE HARDSHIP. SO I WOULD BE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO SAY THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD NOT GO FORWARD WITH THIS PRICE INCREASE.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE NEW THINGS.

THERE'S A REASON I LIVE IN A 60 YEAR OLD HOME.

I'D LOVE TO DO MORE FOR THE CITY, BUT I DO WHAT I CAN FOR THE CITY, AND I DO A LOT FOR THE THINGS THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT.

THAT SHOULD BE EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S THE PARADE SUPPORTING PEOPLE, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S YOUR GUYS'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND NOT ASK FOR THIS PRICE INCREASE.

YOU KNOW, IS THERE A LITTLE BIT? YES, MAYBE. BUT REALISTICALLY, WE'RE ALL TALKING 2% RAISES AND YOU'RE TALKING THIS TYPE OF PRICE INCREASE.

YOU GUYS ARE NOT DOING THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED FOR.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL SORT OF END THERE. BUT I WOULD ULTIMATELY SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT US TO LOOK UP WHAT YOUR INCREASE WILL BE? WE CAN PULL UP. NO, I JUST WANT TO VOICE MY OPINION.

OKAY. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE IT. SO AGAIN, WE.

THE VALUE OF MY HOME. I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT ISN'T THE VALUE, BUT I WOULD HARDLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S WORTH TRULY THAT MUCH MONEY.

BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. OH, YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. YOU KNOW, I WAS IN HOUSTON LAST WEEK AND THERE'S $7 GAS.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN CONTROL IN THIS BUDGET.

WE CAN CONTROL. WE ALL HAVE CUTBACKS. YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO ORDER WAGYU BEEF.

I DON'T, SO I JUST SORT OF WANT TO STATE THAT FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO DO YOUR JOB AND NOT APPROVE THIS BUDGET.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? YEP.

HI, EVERYONE. I LIVE AT 919 BIRCH STREET IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, AND I MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO AND I HAD TO MOVE. I MOVED FROM SAN DIEGO AREA TO HERE BECAUSE I LOST MY DAD.

HE DIED. HE WAS ORIGINALLY HE LIVED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AS A KID, AND I HAD UNFORTUNATELY HAD A LEGAL BATTLE WITH MY MOM.

SO I HAD TO SELL MY DAD'S HOUSE I LIVED IN FOREVER AND BUY THIS HOUSE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

AND WHAT I FEEL LIKE ABOUT THE TAX INCREASES, I HAVE AUTISM, I'M ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

MY SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY WENT UP LIKE $23 THIS YEAR.

SO THIS TAX INCREASE, YOU KNOW, MAKES IT HARD FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND OTHER PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOME.

AND IT JUST MAKES IT REALLY HARD. I DO APPRECIATE THE REGISTRATION HERE.

LIKE, I SOLD A COUPLE OF MY VEHICLES AND I GOT MONEY BACK.

I APPRECIATE THAT STUFF. BUT I THINK WHENEVER SOMETHING'S ATTACHED TO MY HOUSE, I FEEL LIKE DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

IT'S LIKE, I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T GET TAX ON GROCERIES BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LIVE.

AND I WISH THAT THEY WOULD FIND ANOTHER WAY TO TAX STUFF.

SO I DON'T LIKE SEEING PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMES DUE TO THIS.

AND I KNOW THE CITY NEEDS MONEY, BUT ALSO HOMEOWNERS NEED MONEY.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY SOME HOUSES DON'T LOOK IN THE GREATEST SHAPE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT,

[00:20:03]

BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SPEND IT ON PROPERTY TAX.

SO THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. SO AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY TAX INCREASE IS GOING TO BE? YEAH. WE CAN LOOK IT UP FOR YOU. WHAT WAS YOUR NAME SIR? BLAISE B L A I S E .$410.64.

NOW YOUR YOUR VALUATION WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

WHAT'S THE REASON? YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR ABOUT THAT? WE DON'T CONTROL THE VALUATION OF YOUR HOME. OKAY, SO THAT'S OVER ON THE COUNTY SIDE.

OH ACROSS THE STREET. CORRECT. YEAH. WE DON'T WE DON'T CONTROL THE VALUATION OF YOUR HOME.

AND JUST THAT'S A THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE. BUT AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE HOUSE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE. I MEAN, IT'S THE TREE STREETS, BUT YEAH, I HAVEN'T REALLY CHANGED THE TREE STREETS.

RIGHT. BUT IF YOU WERE TO LIST YOUR HOME, I DON'T.

IS IT WORTH 199 NINE RIGHT. LIKE THAT'S THAT'S THE QUESTION OF YOU AND WHO WOULD SELL IT? I BOUGHT IT. DID YOU BUY IT IN 24. YEAH. IN 2024 FOR 220.

YEAH. OKAY. BUT IT WENT UP SINCE LAST YEAR. YEAH.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY THE VALUE WENT UP TO 199 BECAUSE YOU PAY.

220. YEAH. SO THEN YOUR VALUE GOES UP BASED OFF OF THE SALE PRICE.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE INTERNET, IT ALWAYS SAYS IT'S, IT'S A LOT LOWER, LIKE 208,000 SOMETHING AROUND THERE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY'LL DO IS TAKE PREVIOUS SALE PRICES OF THE HOUSE.

AND THEN THAT KIND OF BECOMES THE NEW MARKET PRICE.

AND THEN THEY LOOK AT OTHER HOUSES IN THAT AREA.

IF THEY FIT THAT SAME CRITERIA, SAME FOOTPRINT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, AND THEN THEY WOULD SET A PRICE OR AN ASSESSED VALUE BASED OFF OF THAT.

YEAH. WHEN I BOUGHT IT, THERE WAS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE BIDDING WAR.

AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRICED FOR 215 AND I HAD TO PAY 220 BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE MADE AN OFFER.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE HAD IT PRIOR TO YOU AND THEN FIXED IT UP BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO YOU.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? YEAH. IT HAD A FIRE. AND I THINK THE 17TH OF JULY OF 2023, RIGHT.

MICROWAVE. SO THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO IT.

OKAY. THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. OKAY, SO I JUST HAD JODY TYPE IN THE 136 FIVE THE VALUE OF IT PREVIOUS YEAR WITH OUR LEVY RATE GOING FROM 1769 TO 1747.

IT WOULD HAVE REDUCED IT BY $82.92. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT I'M JUST WITHOUT THE VALUE INCREASE AND THE SALE THAT'S, WE'RE LOWERING OUR PORTION. I JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT VISUALLY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VISUAL LEARNERS. THANKS FOR TELLING ME THAT. YEAH. NO PROBLEM.

YES, SIR.

NAME'S TIM ASHLEY. I LIVE AT 15 GLENVIEW DRIVE.

MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST TIME I HAVE DONE THIS, BUT I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

WE'VE BEEN IN OUR HOUSE 40 YEARS. WE CONSTANTLY SEE OUR TAXES GO UP, AND THE ONLY IMPROVEMENT WE'VE DONE IS I PLANTED FLOWERS.

THAT'S IT. AND I DON'T GET. WE'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THIS STUFF KEEPS GOING UP. NOT ONLY OUR TAXES, BUT COST OF LIVING AND ANY UPKEEP OF OUR PROPERTIES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE AWARE OF. THE WEST END, BUT WE GOT A HUGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT OVER THERE.

AND SADLY, THESE FOLKS JUST TAKE WHAT THEY NEED.

THEY DON'T ASK YOU, THEY JUST BREAK INTO YOUR PROPERTY, DO THE DAMAGE.

AIN'T A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO WITH. WE CAN CALL THE COPS.

THEY CAN DO US NO GOOD. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM? [INAUDIBLE] WHAT'S THAT? OH. ANYWHO, AT THIS CURRENT RATE, IF THIS KEEPS UP, YOU'RE PUTTING ALL OF US SENIOR CITIZENS OUT OF OUR HOMES.

AND ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO IS ADD TO THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM.

WE ALREADY GOT A PROBLEM. THERE AIN'T NO EASY ANSWER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS, BUT. BUT RAISING OUR TAXES, THAT'S NOT THE DEAL.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE CITY. I'VE SEEN GOOD IDEAS COME OUT OF THIS COUNCIL.

[00:25:02]

NOT NECESSARILY YOU GUYS. AND I'VE SEEN SOME BAD IDEAS COME OUT OF HERE.

AND FOR THE MOST FOR THE MOST OF IT, WE'VE ABSORBED IT AS A COMMUNITY.

BUT THIS THIS HURTS US MORE WAYS THAN ONE. SO IF YOU ALL COULD JUST SEE, JUST JUST HOLD THIS STUFF OFF FOR A BIT.

BECAUSE WITH ALL THE INCREASES GOING ON, FOLKS, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING? YEAH. YOU CAN ONLY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONCE. OH, SHUCKS.

SORRY.

WE GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE SHELL GAME, BETWEEN THE ASSESSOR AND THE LEVY.

AND IT'S. YEP. YOU DON'T GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

WELL, YEAH, WE'LL ADDRESS IT. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS GRACE FOX.

I LIVE AT 122 HUNTER. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY TAXES ARE GOING TO DO.

IF YOU CAN GET THAT AMOUNT. I'D SURE APPRECIATE IT.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY TAXES. WE HAD OUR STREET DONE.

I LIVE ON HUNTER UP THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL, BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED.

AND I REALIZED I GOT TO TAKE SOME STUFF UP WITH THE COUNTY ASSESSOR OR WHOEVER, BUT I'M NOT EVEN ABLE TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY.

I TRIED TO INVOLVE. OH GEEZ. I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE I'VE SPOKE WITH.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CODE VIOLATIONS AND THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY HAS LITERALLY FALLEN INTO MY YARD.

THEY'VE HAD A PRIVACY FENCE COLLAPSE INTO MY YARD.

IT TOOK HIM ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GET RID OF IT.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT, ESPECIALLY WITH TAXES GOING UP.

AND IT'S KIND OF HARD RIGHT NOW, BUT I JUST I GUESS I'M JUST LOOKING FOR DIRECTION AND I HOPE SOMEONE WILL CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF SOME THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE.

I MEAN, IT TOOK QUITE A WHILE FOR THE OUR STREET TO BE REPAIRED.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT OVER THERE. I LIVE, I LIVE SO MUCH BETTER.

IT'S SO MUCH BETTER. I CAN'T TELL YOU. YES, BUT THERE'S THERE'S ISSUES WITH SPEEDING AND HOMELESS.

I THINK SOMEBODY ADDRESSED THAT ALREADY. I LIVE ALONE, I'M A WOMAN.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT SCARY WHEN SOMEBODY IN YOUR YARD WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, AT NIGHT.

AND SO I JUST HOPE AND I'VE CALLED THE POLICE AND STUFF AND MADE COMPLAINTS, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROPERTY VALUE CAN KEEP GOING UP WHEN ACTUALLY MY HOME IF AND I'LL ADDRESS IT WITH THE COUNTY ASSESSOR, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, BUT IT'S IT'S LOSING ITS VALUE BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.

AND I AM NOT KIDDING. IT IS FLOODING. I'VE HAD MY BASEMENT FLOODED.

MY AIR CONDITIONER IS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE RAW DIRT THAT I LIVE ON A HILL.

OBVIOUSLY I'M AT BETWEEN THE ALLEY WHEN THE ALLEY COME OR WHEN THE.

WHEN THEY FINALLY PUT SOME STUFF DOWN ON OUR ALLEY TO CONTROL ALL THAT.

IT'S ALREADY WASHED OUT BECAUSE OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING AND THAT'S RUNNING THE 100 YEAR OLD HOUSE OR HOWEVER IT IS.

IT'S SO DILAPIDATED. THERE'S JUST SO MANY PROBLEMS ON MY STREET AND I'M JUST I JUST AM.

I LIVE THREE HOUSES DOWN FROM YOU. YOU DO BETTER.

I LIVE THREE HOUSES DOWN FROM YOU. YOU DO? I DO.

I LIVE ON THE CORNER. I LIVE ON THE CORNER.

NO, I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU MA'AM. SO YOUR CITY PORTION OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL GO UP $40.76.

OKAY. THAT'S A LOT FOR ME. OH, DID I MENTION THAT I CAN'T ACCESS MY BACKYARD WITHOUT GOING THROUGH MY. NO, BUT LET'S TALK AFTER.

WELL, I'LL BE ON A WALK TOMORROW SO WE CAN. ONE OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS GRABBED ME.

NO. YOU'RE FINE. YEAH. I HATE TO BE A PAIN, BUT IT'S.

IT'S ALL GOOD. DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING? OKAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE DANIELLE COME UP AND TALK THROUGH KIND OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS INFORMATION AND THIS LEVY.

THIS NUMBER. AND WHILE SHE'S COMING UP, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS A FEW THINGS FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE.

SO I THINK MOST OF YOU I SEE HAVE YOUR STATEMENT IN HAND AND I DON'T GENERALLY TALK FOR THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE,

[00:30:04]

BUT I WILL AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I THINK ALL OF OUR TAXES ARE GOING UP AND WE'RE NOT VERY PLEASED WITH THE RATES, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE COUNTY ASSESSOR. SO TO MAYOR WALSH'S POINT TO HAVE A 10% ASSESSMENT INCREASE THAT IS. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE TAXING ENTITIES, SO MULTIPLE LEVIES PLUS THE ASSESSOR RATE.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR PIECE OF PAPER AND I ACTUALLY BROUGHT MINE AS WELL.

THE FIRST CHART IS THE SCHOOL. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR SCHOOL TAXING ENTITY.

SO CONSTABLE SCHOOLS OR LEWIS CENTRAL AND THEN IT'S THE COUNTY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT PAGE AND THE CITY IS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.

AND THEN ON THE BACK IT SHOWS SOME SOME HYPOTHETICALS THAT ARE THERE.

AND SO THE CITY IS JUST ONE PORTION OF THE OVERALL TAXING ENTITY.

THIS IS THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW OR EXCUSE ME, THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE WILL BE LOWERING OUR LEVY.

AND THE LARGEST CHANGE IS THE INCREASE FROM THE ASSESSORS.

AND SO TO THE POINT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT LOOKS AT THE AVERAGE AVERAGE SALE PRICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT REASSESSES THEN IT'S STATE LAW, THEN THAT PROPERTY TAX OR PROPERTIES NEED TO BE ASSESSED AT PLUS OR -5% EACH, EACH TIME THEY DO THEIR EVALUATIONS. AND IF THEY'RE NOT WITHIN PLUS OR -5% OF THE NEW MARKET RATE, EVERYBODY GETS REASSESSED. THIS IS NOT A REASSESSMENT YEAR, BUT I THINK WE HAD A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A PROPERTY THAT SOLD FOR MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IT PREVIOUSLY WAS WORTH.

AND SO THOSE HIGHER PRICES, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE AVAILABILITY OF STOCK IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT DOES DRIVE THE PRICES UP. WHEN YOU GO TO PURCHASE A NEW HOME OR THERE IS BIDDING WARS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE CONTROL AS A COUNCIL HAVE CONTROL OVER THE ASSESSMENT RATE.

THAT IS THE COUNTY ASSESSORS RATE. THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION GOING ON FROM A DES MOINES STANDPOINT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

PERSONALLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE OVERALL PICTURE IS GOING TO GET FIXED UNTIL THEY ADDRESS THE WAY PROPERTIES ARE ASSESSED.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHANGING AND PUTTING LIMITS ON HOW MUCH IT CAN GO UP.

BUT THAT WILL SEE RELIEF, SOME RELIEF FOR THE TAX FOR THE HOME OWNER.

BUT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY CHANGE THE WAY HOW PROPERTIES ARE ASSESSED, THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LARGEST CHANGE FOR US AS HOME OWNERS. AND SO THAT I WILL TURN OVER TO DANIELLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE, WHY WE ARE PROPOSING THIS LEVY RATE, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. DANIELLE BEMIS, FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

OKAY. SO AS MAYOR HAS MENTIONED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE CITY HAS STARTED TO LOWER OR DECREASE THE OVERALL LEVY RATE.

SOME OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY STATE LAW AND CHANGES IN PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

A LOT OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION SHIFT IS IN THE VALUATION.

SO IT'S NOT US NECESSARILY PAYING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OUT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT IT'S THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S COMING ON THE TAX ROLL FOR THESE NEW CONSTRUCTIONS, THESE NEW MULTIFAMILY HOMES, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S THE INCREASE IN VALUATION IS DUE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION OR ITEMS COMING ON THE TAX ROLL.

SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS TOO FROM A YEAR OVER YEAR CHANGE.

THE VALUATIONS NET INCREASED IN FOUR OF THE LARGEST BUCKETS.

SO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND AG BECAUSE AG WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY, THE NET AMONGST THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES WAS 12.25% JUST IN THE VALUATION FROM LAST YEAR'S VALUATION. SO THAT'S DRIVING.

YES. WENT UP. AG WENT DOWN. THE REST OF THEM WENT UP NET.

THEY WERE 12.25. SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF THE VALUATION, WHICH IN TURN VALUATION TIMES THE TAX RATE FOR THE CITY, GIVES YOU THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE CITY THAT FACTORS INTO

[00:35:05]

INFLATION BUDGETED EXPENDITURES FOR CITY OPERATIONS.

AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES OR MORE SERVICES, THOSE COSTS INCREASE.

WHICH HOW DO YOU FUND THOSE? MOST OF THEM ARE FUNDED THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.

SO AS WE ARE FACTORING IN ALL OF THESE BUDGETS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED BY EACH DEPARTMENT, EACH SERVICES, EACH SERVICE THAT IS OFFERED WITH THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE, WITH THE COST OF PERSONNEL COST OF LIVING INCREASES TWO PEOPLE'S POINT COST OF LIVING INCREASES, SAY TWO, 2.5%. BUT THAT DOESN'T FACTOR IN ALL OF THE OTHER CHANGES IN SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AS THE CITY.

SO THAT WAS ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HOW IT WAS, THE LEVY RATE WAS DETERMINED WAS WE PROPOSED, WE LOOK AT WHAT THE EXPENSES ARE THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED BY EACH DEPARTMENT, AND WE LOOK AT WHAT LEVY WITHIN OUR TOTAL LEVY RATE ACTUALLY DRIVES THE REVENUE FUND. THE FUNDING SOURCE, WHICH IS REVENUE TO THOSE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

SO A LOT OF IT IS POLICE AND FIRE, AND THAT IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THAT IS WHAT'S BEING RESTRICTED BY THE STATE.

IN GROWTH, WHICH WITH POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL CUTS BEING PROPOSED AT THE STATE LEVEL TODAY.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A BUDGETED DEFICIT OF $13 MILLION.

THAT IS INCLUDING THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO EXPENSES THAT ARE COMING INTO PLAY THAT ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

DIFFERENT PROJECTS COMING ON BOARD. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP SOME OF THE OTHER LEVIES FLAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO DECREASE WHERE WE CAN ELSEWHERE AND THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED AT THE PROPOSED LEVY RATE TODAY, BUT WE WOULD BE BUDGETING A DEFICIT OF $13 MILLION EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE.

POTENTIALLY MORE BECAUSE THEY JUST STARTED TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE PROPOSALS UP THERE IS IF YOU'RE 65 OR OLDER AND OWN YOUR OWN HOME THEN THERE WOULD BE NO PROPERTY TAX.

THAT'S 28% OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT WOULD BE EVEN MORE MONEY THAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET DEPENDING ON WHAT WHAT PROPOSAL THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH.

OVER THE NEXT EIGHT ISH WEEKS IN DES MOINES.

SO JUST TO BE JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE BUDGETING A DEFICIT AND WE'RE LOWERING THE LEVY RATE.

OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO MAYBE GO OVER SOME OF THE LARGER NUMBERS THAT CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR THAT ARE CAUSING THAT? SO EVERYBODY KIND OF UNDERSTANDS OR. SO THE BUDGET MEETING WILL BE HELD AFTER THE LEVY IS SET.

SO I MEAN, BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE FINAL NUMBERS TO THE BUDGET UNTIL YOU GUYS APPROVE OR DENY THE LEVY.

SO YOU GUYS ALL WENT OVER THIS, RIGHT. AND I MEAN, THAT'S IF WE COULD LOWER IT MORE, WE WOULD.

WE'RE ALREADY BUDGETING A DEFICIT. WE'RE LOWERING THE LEVY.

IF WE COULD LOWER IT MORE, WE WOULD. I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE VERY THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS THAT GO INTO THE EQUATION HERE.

A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. WE'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE WHEN WE BUDGET REVENUES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORECAST LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.

YOU CAN'T FORECAST GAMING REVENUES. SO IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST SOME OF THOSE REVENUES.

WE ALSO BUDGET FOR EVERY AUTHORIZED POSITION AT THE CITY TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT SEAT KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT FULLY STAFFED, BUT WE BUDGET FOR THAT. SO WE'RE BUDGETING AT A DEFICIT WITH A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AT THE STATE LEVEL OF WHAT CAN BE CUT IN A MATTER OF.

WELL, YEAH, GAS PRICES FOR ALL OF US HAVE GONE UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT GOES UP FOR THE CITY AS WELL.

OIL WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT 100 MILES A YEAR WE RESURFACED WITH ASPHALT, SO THAT'S A HUGE COST. AS YOU SAID, WE'RE I THINK WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND

[00:40:01]

WE'RE LOWERING OUR PORTION EVEN THOUGH WE'RE AT A BUDGET DEFICIT.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO. IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

WHERE WE HAD A BUDGET DEFICIT LAST YEAR AS WELL.

YES. HOW MUCH WAS THAT BUDGET DEFICIT? 13 MILLION.

SO IT WAS 13 MILLION LAST YEAR AND 13 MILLION THIS YEAR.

AND THIS 13 MILLION IS AFTER THIS $9 MILLION INCREASE.

OKAY. SO SO IT COULD BE 24 OR 22 MILLION. YEAH.

SO SOME OF IT IS TIMING WITH YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, RIGHT? CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE FUNDED BY THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY, WHICH IS PART OF THE OVERALL LEVY. SO THOSE COSTS ARE INCREASING. BUT THE TIMING OF THE PROJECT SPEND AND WHEN WE ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS YOU'RE GOING TO RUN AT A DEFICIT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO MATCH UP YEAR OVER YEAR.

RIGHT. SO, AND I GET THAT WE DON'T GET THE NUMBERS FROM THE FOR THE BUDGET UNTIL AFTER THIS, BUT OBVIOUSLY SINCE THERE IS A BUDGETED DEFICIT NUMBER OF 13 MILLION.

SO WE KNOW SOME OF THE NUMBERS. I GUESS JUST IF WE CAN, CAN WE GET ANY SORT OF INFORMATION BEFORE WE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE APPROVE.

IT'S ALL LIKE IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL IN THE PACKET.

LIKE IT'S ALL PUBLIC BECAUSE IT'S WE SET THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO IT'S ALL IN THE IT'S THE NUMBERS ARE IN THE. RIGHT, RIGHT. I MEAN, IT WAS VERY, VERY THOROUGH IN OUR PACKET AND LOOKING THROUGH IT, WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MEAT ON THE BONES TO, TO CUT TAXES. WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE OUR POPULATION HAS BEEN STAGNANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND, AND WE AREN'T GROWING AND THE COST OF OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND IT JUST DOES NOT ADD UP.

AND SO OUR TAXES ARE COLLECTED IN THE REAR. WE'RE BEHIND ON THE COLLECTION OF OUR TAXES, BUT WE'RE SPENDING AT TODAY'S COST. AND SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, AS YOU SAY, TO TO BUDGET.

AND WE HAVE CONSERVATIVELY BUDGETED. EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD WITH OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR AND WITH THE CURRENT MAYOR AND WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'VE LOWERED OUR LEVY WHERE WE CAN AND STILL CARRY THE SERVICES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S VERY TOUGH. IT'S VERY, VERY THIN MARGIN THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

IF I COULD REDUCE YOUR TAXES DOWN TODAY TO NOTHING, I WOULD DO THAT.

I MEAN, I LOVE THIS TOWN AND I WANT IT TO BE AFFORDABLE.

I PROBABLY LIVE ON ONE OF THE WORST PAVED ROADS IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND IT'S IT'S 100 AND SOME YEAR OLD SURFACE. AND SO BUT OUR MONEY COMING IN ON OUR GAS TAX IS FROM THE STATE AT A POPULATION RATE. THAT HASN'T CHANGED REALLY SINCE I WAS BORN.

AND OUR CITY HAS SPRAWLED TO THE EAST. IT'S JUST THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH MEAT ON THE BONES.

AND I WISH I HAD A GOOD ANSWER FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T.

THE STATE DICTATES A LOT OF WHAT WE DO, BUT YET WE, WE ARE LOWERING OUR LEVY AND TRYING TO KEEP THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES TO A COMMUNITY THAT DESERVES IT.

AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOME.

BUT WE WILL WORK ON IT AND WE'LL WORK ON IT TOGETHER.

YOU CAN COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

THANKS. THANK YOU. DANIEL. I'M DOCTOR DAVID MERZ.

I'M AT 332 WILLOW AVENUE. I SPEAK FOR DEBORAH DANIELSON AS WELL.

I WONDER, IS THERE AN EXIT NUMBER FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY? YOU SAY IT'S A STEADY POPULATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE THE MEAT ON THE BONE IS SORT OF SLIM, BUT WHEN THE BONES DISAPPEAR, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING.

AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY.

SO I'M SORT OF CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU NEED ELON MUSK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DOGE SITUATION TO CUT CUT THINGS.

WELL, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE DONE ALL THESE THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS ALWAYS TELL ME TO, BUT THEY DON'T.

I MEAN, THEY JUST DON'T. AND SO, I MEAN, IF YOU LOSE POPULATION, WE'VE LOST WE'VE LOST POPULATION SINCE I WAS BORN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHAT IS IT RIGHT NOW? YOU SAID IT'S OR IS IT NET LOSS? NET LOSS. NET LOSS. NET LOSS.

AND SO HOW IS THAT DOING FOR THE SCHOOLS? POORLY.

OKAY. WELL, I JUST SAY I MEAN, I JUST STARTED RUNNING.

[00:45:04]

YOU DON'T WANT TO YOU WANT TO YOU DON'T WANT TO RUN A DEFICIT.

AND YOU WANT TO TRY AND MAKE UP. BY IOWA LAW, WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BOOKS.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CUTS, AND THAT'S COMMON.

AND IT HAS TO BE IN THE LEVY PART OF THINGS. YES.

OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I TO ME, I, I CAME FROM THE PLACE WHERE THEY HAD A LOT OF SNOW THIS PAST WEEK.

OKAY. AND IT'S ONLY 25,000 PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T THINK I'D EVER HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH SERVICES.

AND I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, PICKING UP DIAPERS AND ON BLUFF STREET.

AND, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO MAYOR WALSH ABOUT PICKING UP HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AS A DOCTOR, THAT'S JUST HORRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT AND TO HAVE TWO FLOODS IN YOUR BASEMENT AS SOMEBODY ELSE MENTIONED, FLOODS, YOU KNOW, COSTING $45,000 OUT OF POCKET.

THAT'S NOT IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE. IT'S STAYING. IT'S REALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, I CAN GET SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'D PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF. YEAH. DANIELLE, DID WE DO A BREAK EVEN ANALYSIS ON THIS AT ALL, OR IS IT JUST THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE ENDED UP.

HERE'S OUR NUMBER. WHERE WOULD WE BE AT? WHAT WOULD IT GET LOWERED TO IF WE WERE JUST EVEN ACROSS THE BOARD? YOU KNOW? LIKE THE LEVY RATE BEING LOWERED? IT WOULDN'T BE LOWERED, IT WOULD GO UP.

SO INCREASE THAT IF WE WERE TO KEEP REVENUE THE SAME.

YEAH. AGAIN, WITH TODAY'S INCREASING COSTS, BUT REVENUE INCOMING WOULD STAY THE SAME.

THAT'S THE MIDDLE COLUMN OF THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.

OUR LEVY RATE WOULD BE $15.29482 PER THOUSAND DOLLARS OF VALUATION.

OKAY. SO THEN WE WOULD AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, BRING IN THE $62.5 MILLION IN REVENUE, RIGHT? OKAY. I MEAN, I THINK YOU CAN SEE WHERE EVERYBODY COMES AT IS, HEY, WE HAD A, A SURPLUS, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE HAD THE SURPLUS AND NOW WE COME BACK AND SAY, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH ROOM TO WORK WITH.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE X BECAUSE EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. WHAT WE DO TONIGHT, WE'RE KIND OF SETTING A LIMIT.

CORRECT. IT COULD END UP BETTER IF WE LOOK AT SOME THINGS AND SAY, WELL, MAYBE THOSE EXPENSES ARE A LITTLE OUT OF LINE OR SOMETHING.

IS THAT CORRECT OR AM I NOT SEEING THAT RIGHT? THE LEVY RATE IS BEING SET. CORRECT. SO THE BUDGET CAN CHANGE, BUT THE LEVY FOR THE TAX PURPOSES WILL NOT CHANGE.

OKAY. IT CAN GO DOWN. SO THIS COULD PRIOR TO THE LEGISLATION A FEW YEARS AGO IT WAS CALLED THE MAX LEVY.

RIGHT. THEY HAVE SAME CONCEPT, SLIGHTLY TWEAKED.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A LEVY RATE THAT IS APPROVED WITH THE BUDGET AT A LOWER ONE THAT IS PRESENTED TODAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS. I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

MINI BRYSON WALSH, 4301 COTTAGE ROAD. SO ALL OF OUR PROPERTY VALUATIONS WENT UP, RIGHT? SO SAY MY HOUSE WAS WORTH 200,000. I'M JUST THROWING THESE NUMBERS OUT THERE.

AND YOU WERE TAXING ME AT 10%. NOW MY HOUSE IS WORTH 300,000.

AND AT 10%, YOU'RE GETTING THAT MUCH MORE MONEY RIGHT FROM EVERYBODY.

NO. YES. NO. MAYBE. SO. COUNTY. AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT MONEY THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY ARE GETTING THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE VOTED ON BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY VALUATIONS WENT UP, RIGHT.

DIDN'T ALL OF YOURS. YEAH. SO WHY WOULD IT HAVE TO BE RAISED IF YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING MORE MONEY THAN YOU WERE GETTING BEFORE THE EVALUATION INCREASE? SO OUR LEVY IS GOING DOWN.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU CAME IN A LITTLE BIT LATE AND WE.

WE TALKED. ALSO SAID IT COULD GO UP AND IT COULD BE BETTER OR IT COULD BE WORSE.

IT WON'T GO UP. THE QUESTION THAT DOUG SAID IS IF WE WENT TO A NET ZERO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? AND SO THAT'S WHERE I STATED IT WOULD GO UP. IT'S NOT GOING.

WE'RE NOT PROPOSING IT TO GO UP. SO THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT MONIES THAT YOU GOT FROM OUR FROM OUR PROPERTY VALUATIONS GOING UP WENT TO THE CURRENT BUDGET? FOR THE CITY PORTION.

IT IS RIGHT. I'M TALKING CITY. I WOULD NOT ASK ABOUT THE COUNTY.

OKAY. SOME PEOPLE DID EARLIER. SO THAT'S WHY I'M CLARIFYING.

[00:50:04]

OKAY. BECAUSE OUR LEVY IS GOING DOWN FOR THE CITY.

RIGHT? RIGHT. SO. I JUST WAS CONFUSED. IT IS INCLUDED.

IT IS INCLUDED. IT COULD BE BETTER. IT COULD BE WORSE.

IT'S PART OF IT. YES. THE INCREASE OF THE 8.94 MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THIS $13 MILLION SHORTFALL BUDGET.

YES. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEING ACCOUNTED FOR.

MINI, IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S ALREADY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

YOU BET. THANK YOU. SORRY. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKE EARLIER.

ONCE. OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION FROM THE COUNCIL? I THINK, AS EVERYBODY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO PUSH ANYBODY OUT OF THEIR HOUSES.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION WE CAN FOR ALL OF YOU.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GET DENSITY INTO PLACES WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE DOING AS MUCH INFILL HOUSING AS WE CAN.

I'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS. THE THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE COMING OFF TIF THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE COMING OFF TAX ABATEMENT THAT WILL HELP INCREASE THIS AS WELL. I THINK MY TEN YEARS, WE'VE ONLY INCREASED THE LEVY MAYBE ONCE, MAYBE TWICE. I THINK, AS YOU SAID, THE LAST SIX YEARS WE'VE DECREASED IT.

WE'RE ALL OBVIOUSLY TAXPAYERS TOO. AND WE, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL TRY TO BE AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WE CAN.

WE, WE IT HITS EVERYBODY. IT'S ALL RELATIVE, WHETHER IT'S $40 OR $400.

IT'S ALL RELATIVE. IT HURTS THE SAME. AND SO I THINK WE ARE ALL OF US ARE DOING WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF STATE WHERE I'M AT AFTER THE DISCUSSION.

I WANT TO THANK DANIELLE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.

I KNOW SHE HAS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. AND THIS THIS PUTS HER IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH HAVING TO TELL THE COMMUNITY IS NOT AN EASY JOB AT ALL.

SO I WANT TO THANK DANIELLE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE ON THIS AND I WANT TO ECHO, ROGER SAID.

I THINK WE ALL WANT TO DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THE CITY AND WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ARTICULATED TONIGHT IS, ONE, WE KNOW THAT POPULATION OF THE CITY HAS BEEN GOING DOWN, BUT I THINK THAT PROBLEM WOULD GET WORSE IF WHEN WE'RE WHEN WE HAVE RETIREES ON FIXED INCOME, GETTING PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, THAT'S GOING TO DROP OUR POPULATION EVEN FURTHER, WHICH WILL ALSO HURT OUR TAX BASE AS WELL. AND THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME LONG TERM PAIN BEYOND THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MY HOME. MY HOME ASSESSMENT WENT UP ALMOST 10% WITH NO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOUSE.

AND YOU KNOW, I CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE I'M NOT ON A FIXED INCOME, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN A MUCH TOUGHER SITUATION THAN I AM.

I'VE HAD NEIGHBORS WHO ARE MY GOOD FRIENDS WHO ARE RETIREES, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT EVEN BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE HAVING TO MOVE OUT OF COUNCIL BLUFFS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE PROPERTY TAXES.

AND LIKE WE HEARD TONIGHT, PEOPLE'S WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THIS.

AND I HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL CONCERN WITH WHERE THE BUDGET OR WHEN OUR CITY REVENUE IS GOING UP 14%, BUT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO LOWER THE LEVY RATE 1.2%.

SO THE NET GAIN IN TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY IS AN EXTRA $8.9 MILLION OUT OF OUR CITIZENS POCKETS, WHICH IS I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHEN WE RAN FOR THESE OFFICES.

THE. PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN I HEARD WAS PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I. I THINK EVERYBODY WHO RAN TALKED ABOUT, MYSELF INCLUDED, RAN ON.

WE NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR OUR CITIZENS.

MY. AND I MADE THAT PROMISE AS WELL, AND I INTEND TO.

I SAID THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IT AND I STILL DO.

AND SO I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH HOW THE NUMBERS LINE UP WITH WITH HOW MUCH OUR REVENUE IS GOING UP VERSUS HOW SMALL THE PROPOSED LEVY REDUCTION IS. SO THOSE ARE SOME CONCERNS I HAVE, BECAUSE I THINK THIS WOULD HURT A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY OUR RETIREES, ON FIXED INCOMES. I CAN AGREE WITH SOME OF THAT, COLE, BUT DO YOU THINK DANIELLE SHOULD BUDGET AT $20 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL? NO, I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN. OR SHOULD I? I DON'T WANT TO CUT SERVICES.

[00:55:03]

NO, THE REALITY HERE IS WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY BUDGETING NEGATIVELY FOR YEARS AND AS ANYONE KNOWS IN THEIR OWN HOME SITUATION, AT SOME POINT YOUR CREDIT CARDS GET FULL.

AND SO WE'VE KIND OF REACHED A POINT OF NO RETURN.

I FEEL LIKE WHERE YEAH, WE'RE GAINING $8 MILLION, BUT THAT DOESN'T OFFSET THE 13 WE WERE SHORT LAST YEAR OR THE 18 WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORT THIS COMING YEAR. THE REALITY IS, IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHO WE'RE GOING TO LET GO AND WHAT SERVICES WE'RE GOING TO CUT.

UNLESS WE CAN FIND SOME OTHER MAGIC WAND TO BRING IT IN.

THE ONE THING THAT THIS COUNCIL, WHEN PREVIOUS COUNCILS, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW COUNCIL, HAVE STRIVED TO DO, IS TO TRY TO GET DENSITY IN AND TO TRY TO BRING PROJECTS INTO TOWN TO GENERATE MORE INCOME AND MORE TAXABLE REVENUE TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT, BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS TO CUT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.

THE ONE GENTLEMAN YOU MADE, YOU MADE COMMENTS OF, OF YOU KNOW.

DISAPPROVAL OF HOW YOUR CITY IS, IS, IS UPKEEP IS SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU SPEAK ON ARE, ARE MORE SOCIOECONOMIC SYMPTOMS. THAT CITY SERVICES REALLY CAN'T SO MUCH, MUCH HELP YOU KNOW, ADDICTION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE, ARE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO CURE OUR TOWN OF IF WE COULD.

BUT WHERE IT SITS AT THIS POINT, I, WE REALLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO THOSE HARD DECISIONS WHERE WE, LIKE I SAID, WE PICK WHO WE'RE FIRING AND WHAT SERVICES WE'RE CUTTING BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO JUST HOPE THAT WE MAKE IT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SHORTFALL ON A YEARLY BASIS.

SO. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE GOT TO LOOK AT OUR SOCIAL MAKEUP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A LARGE SENIOR COMMUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LAST THING WE WANTED TO GET INTO IS CUTTING OUR SERVICES OF POLICE AND FIRE THAT WILL, THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THAT. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT WHERE WE MAKE THESE CUTS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS COMING FORWARD.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS. IT'S COMING.

AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BEEN BUDGETING VERY CONSERVATIVE FOR YEARS.

OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR WAS VERY GOOD AT BUDGETING THIS CITY.

AND BUT IT'S VERY NARROW. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS VERY NARROW.

AND WITHOUT AN INFLUX OF NEW POPULATION RAISING OUR POPULATION FROM 60,000 TO 80,000, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE WE NEED THAT AMOUNT OF, OF POPULATION TO AFFORD OUR COMMUNITY THE WAY WE'VE SPRAWLED.

WE NEED THAT DENSITY. AND ONE THING I DON'T THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW, I FEEL WE'RE KIND OF AT THE HIGH END OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN TERMS OF TAX REVENUE.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ASSESSED VALUE ON SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO GO DOWN, BUT I CAN BET THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO UP LIKE THEY WERE FOR SURE.

SO WE'RE KIND OF DEALING WITH THE MOST THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN TERMS OF A TREND AS WE LOOK AT THIS.

I KNOW DANIELLE'S LOOKED AT THIS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ALL OF US. I THINK YOU HERE SAY WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BE MORE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, NONE OF US WANT TO CUT ANYTHING BACK IF WE CAN HELP IT. BUT I DO THINK THAT'S COMING.

I THINK WE'RE ALL SEEING THAT. THIS KIND OF PUTS US IN THE RANGE OF, OKAY, WE SET IT HERE AND WE GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT SOME THINGS AND IF WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WE CAN DO THAT. CORRECT? WE'RE IN A SPOT WHERE WE'VE MADE OUR BET FOR A LONG TIME. THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETIMES HAVE NOT WORKED.

WE GOT TO FACE THAT REALITY AND OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO BE STAGNANT.

WE KNOW THAT. AND NOW WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE FOR THAT.

AND WE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER IDEAS AND SOME BETTER WAYS TO GET PEOPLE HERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GROW OUR TAX BASE WHEN WE GET MORE PEOPLE IN HERE.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, HOPEFULLY WILL TAKE HOLD.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THOSE.

BUT I WOULD GO BACK TO DES MOINES BECAUSE TWO OF THE THREE BILLS HAVE A GROWTH CAP OF 2% ON THEM.

SO GROWING OUR TOWN IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE CAN'T ADD NEW SERVICES TO BRING NEW PEOPLE HERE WITH A GROWTH CAP IN PLACE.

[01:00:03]

THE TRUE RELIEF IS NOT GOING TO COME UNTIL THEY ADDRESS HOW THE PROPERTIES ARE ASSESSED.

AND RIGHT NOW, KNOWING FROM A MARKET VALUE, BEING A FORMER BANKER, THE PROPERTY THAT SOMEBODY IS PAYING FOR TODAY IS CERTAINLY A LOT LESS THAN THEY WERE PAYING A YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO. THOSE PROPERTIES WERE MUCH HIGHER.

THEIR ASSESSED VALUES ARE HIGHER. PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING A NEW HOME TODAY ARE NOT PAYING THAT VALUE.

THEY'RE PAYING LESS. THOSE COSTS HAVE COME DOWN.

HOWEVER, A LOT OF THE OTHER COSTS HAVE STAYED HIGH.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE COSTS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. THOSE COSTS HAVEN'T COME DOWN, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH THOSE TO TRY AND GET THROUGH THEM.

AGAIN, I THINK ALL OF US ARE IN THE SAME BOAT.

WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT COME DOWN MORE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

AND IF WE CAN DO MORE, WE'LL DO MORE. THE WAY I HEAR IT.

AT 1747, IF WE CAN COME BACK AND DANIELLE LOOKS AND WE CAN BE AT 17.25 OR 17 FLAT.

WE ABSOLUTELY WILL. THAT IS A GOAL OF EVERYBODY'S.

I THINK WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT THIS IS THE HIGHEST IT WOULD BE AT 17.47 IT CANNOT GO UP.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? AYE. AYE. THAT WAS FOR IT.

THANK YOU. 4 TO 1. 4 TO 1. OKAY. WE NEED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FROM THE FROM THE ORIGINAL.

YEAH, WE SKIPPED RIGHT OVER THAT. OH, SORRY. YEAH.

JUST CAN WE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT? SECOND.

[3) CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK BEFORE OUR 7:00 STARTS.

WE'LL START WITH THE NORMAL MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.