1 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:10,600 give you a really good reading. 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:17,039 » Hey, how's that trailer been sitting in front of your restaurant? The one that 3 00:00:15,519 --> 00:00:20,880 » day before yesterday, >> the the whole chassis fell off of it. 4 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,119 It's just sitting there. I guess he came back and checked on it the other day. 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,359 Think he's going to get it out of there. >> Okay. 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,640 » Yeah. It's kind of a weird It's a weird story. 7 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,000 » Yeah. >> Yeah. I was 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:33,440 » No, it fell off right there. I noticed that tonight, yesterday he ran into his 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:39,480 restroom and said, "Is everything okay?" And he goes, "Not really." [laughter] 10 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,480 » So, 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:45,480 call the meeting order for Tuesday, September 1st, 2026. 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:57,039 The I'm sorry. >> No, 2026. Oh. 13 00:00:51,840 --> 00:01:01,520 » Uh, as you see, Councilman U Constanescu is not here tonight. So, 14 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:06,720 we'll just go ahead and proceed with the normal business. Uh, and do I have an 15 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:10,640 approval of the agenda? A motion for the approval of the agenda. 16 00:01:09,119 --> 00:01:12,640 » A motion to >> do I have a second to approve the 17 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,240 agenda? >> I have a second. 18 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,920 » Second. >> All in favor say I. 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:22,560 » I. >> All post say nay. Passes. Next thing we 20 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:26,479 move to is to the consent agenda. Uh, for the matter of expediency, I won't go 21 00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:32,079 through every list like what I normally do. Uh, since the council has viewed 22 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:35,119 that, do I have a motion for approval on a consent agenda? 23 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:39,439 » Can I add just a couple? >> Sure. 24 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:45,439 » Um, for the marching festival for Baker, that uh application was mailed in. I 25 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:50,560 have emailed him for a map because uh that's really important for PD and um 26 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,479 public works and we I I can't get a hold of them. So, it's pending that we get 27 00:01:52,479 --> 00:01:58,240 that map of what street they're wanting closed off. 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:02,399 » Okay. And then on number four, um, everything's approved except for at this 29 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:06,560 point we can't do a background check on the applicants, uh, because the record 30 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:09,759 management system is down. So, as soon as that's done, we will go ahead and do 31 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:14,879 the background check. >> Very good. Thank you. 32 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:20,000 Do I have a motion for a quick question? So, does our approval of that is it 33 00:02:18,319 --> 00:02:24,319 going to be dependent on the street day? >> It's pending. 34 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:28,879 » What's pending? the map. I >> understand, but we can't. Are we going 35 00:02:26,239 --> 00:02:32,000 to improve a pending? My question is we approve a [clears throat] pending 36 00:02:30,239 --> 00:02:34,800 street. Can they pick a street that we wouldn't want them? 37 00:02:32,959 --> 00:02:36,879 » Well, okay. So, they usually it is uh is that 38 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,319 » Dearborn? It's Dearborn. >> Dear, 39 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:44,560 » right? >> Fremont. So, usually it's Fremont from 40 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:47,440 the stadium down to Third Street. The last year they wanted further and we 41 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,640 denied that. >> This is for the first home game. 42 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,400 » No, this is for the marching band festival. 43 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:55,760 » Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I was thinking something else. 44 00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:59,440 » No, no. Um, so as long as as long as that's what they're requesting. 45 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,680 » So why don't we just approve that? >> Okay. 46 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,080 » If we're not going to approve anything else, if they requested it, 47 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,959 » we just don't know what street that this is very vague on what street they're 48 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,360 wanting. [laughter] >> I say we've approved what they did last 49 00:03:10,879 --> 00:03:14,560 year and if it doesn't work to come back. 50 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,000 » Fremont. >> Be specific. 51 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:22,560 » Fremont from the stadium to third. >> And that's what we're approving. Okay. 52 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:27,280 » That's feel bad. the amendment to the consent agenda, her consent. Yeah. Or to 53 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:32,560 the application. So, >> all right. Everyone good with that? Do I 54 00:03:30,239 --> 00:03:37,840 have a a motion to accept the consent agenda as 55 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:42,640 modified? >> I move that we accept the consent agenda 56 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:48,720 with the modification that we have conditionally approved for last year's 57 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:51,760 map for the marching band festival. Um and if it deviates, we'll have to come 58 00:03:50,319 --> 00:03:55,040 back. >> Very good. Thank you. 59 00:03:53,840 --> 00:04:00,000 » Second it. >> All in favor say I. 60 00:03:56,879 --> 00:04:04,560 » All oppose say nay. Passed. Now we move to the public comment section where we 61 00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:08,319 allow members of our community public and the comm public to come up and 62 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:12,640 possibly make a comment. You can feel free to approach the podium. If you do 63 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:18,239 come up and comment, I ask you provide your name and your address. 64 00:04:15,599 --> 00:04:24,160 » My name is Rebecca McMillan. 1102 Dearborn Street. 65 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:29,520 Mayor and city council, after working on the Save the Lake project since the 66 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:33,919 night of November 5th, 2024, I understand what a difficult job you 67 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:39,120 have had trying to listen to so many views that the people of Baldwin City 68 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:43,040 have about everything. I also know that the problems of not having the money to 69 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:46,880 meet everyone's needs and dreams of our community. 70 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:51,759 It was a good experience for us as a committee to work with city council Jay 71 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:57,440 and Julie and we learned so much that way. 72 00:04:55,759 --> 00:05:02,160 Our committee has worked hard at the lake putting in hundreds of hours of 73 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:06,240 actual labor. We have been reopening the trails, repairing the signage, 74 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:11,919 rebuilding the foot bridges, and rediscovering the staircase built in the 75 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:15,440 1930s by the WPA. No one had seen it for years. 76 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:19,120 We tried to apply for grants. We were not able to get a grant this spring from 77 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:23,520 Douglas County without either the Baldwin City's partial funding or 78 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:30,080 matching funds of some kind. That's when we started our donation fundraiser and 79 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:34,639 now have a little over 15,000. Committee member Kenny Nihoff has worked 80 00:05:32,479 --> 00:05:40,160 very hard and has officially been awarded this grant to fix the spillway 81 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:46,080 from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. It's a CFAP grant and we met 82 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:50,080 at the lake with the biologists last Friday to talk about how this will 83 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:54,720 happen. And please, many city residents are 84 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:59,440 behind us and we need Baldwin City to put whatever they can into the Baldwin 85 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:04,639 City Park budget to help us fix the spillway. It is for the maintenance of 86 00:06:01,919 --> 00:06:08,960 their community lake. We need the city to do their part. Mowing is excellent. 87 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:13,280 They always do this and it looks wonderful, but it will not repair the 88 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:17,600 spillway. That part should be under the 89 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:22,800 maintenance of this city park. It is the treasure of many acres of mature timber 90 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:27,199 and grassland surrounding the lake. And the disc golf course was originally put 91 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:31,360 there in collabor collaboration with the community development program which 92 00:06:29,039 --> 00:06:35,840 included Baker University. I just found that out this week. It was kind of old 93 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:41,919 news, but it was 2014 that they did that in collaboration with them. The lake is 94 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:46,960 a treasure for our f future generations. It may be the one thing that stands out 95 00:06:44,639 --> 00:06:52,319 and makes our community more unique than other small towns. Thank you for 96 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:56,319 listening to me again and again and again. Thank you. 97 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:59,840 » Thank you, Beggy. Thank you, everyone. >> Yes. Thanks, everyone. and 98 00:06:57,894 --> 00:07:03,599 [clears throat] Councilman Jay sitting down there to go through the lead the 99 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,880 committees and everything else. Jay King, very good. Thank you. Do I have 100 00:07:05,599 --> 00:07:11,120 anyone else would care to make a comment? 101 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:16,479 I take that as a no. So the public comment section for this uh uh 102 00:07:13,759 --> 00:07:21,120 opportunity is closed. Uh we move to E. We really have no special reports or 103 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:26,560 presentations. Uh we move to F which is old business of which there is none. Now 104 00:07:23,599 --> 00:07:31,199 we move to G, new business. uh this is the thing that we've been working for at 105 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:37,599 least for me the last three to four months in this uh budgetary issue. So 106 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:42,080 I'm asking everyone please understand uh everyone does a budget different. I have 107 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:47,120 been through numerous budgets. Please bear with me as we move through this. Uh 108 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:54,400 so what I want to do is the first thing on our new business is uh the hearing to 109 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:59,360 exceed revenue neutral. Uh, and um, since I have asked for that, I am going 110 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:06,360 to open up the floor to the public to go through and make any comments they feel 111 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:06,360 like they might want to make. 112 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:15,599 Seeing none, we'll move on. Move on then, please. Uh, I am going to 113 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:22,960 introduce resolution 2026 hyphen 10 hyphen exceeding revenue 114 00:08:18,479 --> 00:08:26,879 neutral. Uh and uh what I want to do is I'm going to actually introduce that 115 00:08:25,039 --> 00:08:33,080 resolution and I'm going to open the matter for the council for discussion at 116 00:08:29,595 --> 00:08:33,080 [clears throat] this time. 117 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:43,760 Do I have any >> I'm sorry, sir. 118 00:08:41,680 --> 00:08:47,760 » Yeah. Go ahead. >> I just want to tell you the impact of 119 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:53,320 adhering to the RNR would do to your budget. um your proposed 120 00:08:53,440 --> 00:09:01,839 uh the mill we're proposing for this year uh if you were to not go with that 121 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:06,160 and go with RNR, it would be a negative $286,000 122 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:11,200 to your uh mostly to your general fund. Uh if you were to go with RNR, it would 123 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:16,640 be $323,000 less than what you adopted last year and it would be $352,000 124 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:20,000 less than what you adopted in 2025. Now, those are based on current year 125 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:23,279 valuation. So, it's not quite a true apples to apples comparison. But when 126 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:27,279 you take into account your valuation versus the mill levies you applied in 127 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:31,279 those particular years, that's the impact it would have. It would virtually 128 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:34,480 wipe out all of the general fund fund balance that you've managed to build up 129 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:38,000 over the last couple of years or that we've managed to maintain anyway going 130 00:09:35,839 --> 00:09:41,519 into going into next year. So, I just wanted to point that out. Thank you. 131 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:46,519 » Very good. Thank you. And that was Matt Wolf with Baker Tilly. 132 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:51,120 Sorry, >> Matt Long. 133 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:56,480 » Matt Long. Matt Wolf. I called you a different name. Matt Long. My apologies. 134 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:58,720 » A long apology. Okay. >> You got to do it back. 135 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:04,080 » That's right. Come back up here and do it again. Thank you. Uh, so no really 136 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:08,959 discussion from the council. >> Um, so yeah, there's discussion. Um, so 137 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:12,600 exceeding revenue neutral, we were exceeding by how much? 138 00:10:12,959 --> 00:10:17,920 is >> you want to step back up to the podium 139 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:20,240 please. Matt Long >> L A WN 140 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,040 » lawn lawn >> like that dead thing in the front of 141 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,240 your house right now if you don't have mind. 142 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:28,800 » Thank you. >> Okay. Versus so as compared to what we 143 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:32,959 are proposing this year which is still a 6 mil less than what you adopted last 144 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:37,760 year. It is still a it would be a loss of $286,000. 145 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,560 » So the current proposal is is less of a mill. It's it's a mil decrease as 146 00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:46,079 compared to last year >> compared to what you adopted last year. 147 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:51,279 It is a mill decrease. We adopted last year with an error being made in that 148 00:10:48,959 --> 00:10:58,320 essentially [clears throat] we forgot to inflate the uh dollar amount of what we 149 00:10:54,959 --> 00:11:03,440 adopted because we had to. So what ended up happening is when you have an RNR or 150 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:09,839 a u not RNR um excuse me um NRP program like 151 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:13,279 you do uh neighbor revitalization the way it works is they pay their full 152 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,720 amount of taxes and they get rebated a certain portion. Well last year we did 153 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,920 not include the amount of the rebate on the revenue side. It was included on the 154 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:25,440 expenditure side not the revenue side. So the amount you levied we paid a 155 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:29,440 refund on money that never got paid. So that's why we're we're putting that back 156 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:33,519 in this year. And so we're still getting a 157 00:11:30,959 --> 00:11:37,200 it it still ends up being about 06 mil decrease over what you adopted last year 158 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:41,760 even though the actual amount that was build to people was lower because we 159 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,560 essentially they got they they got a rebate for not taxes that didn't get 160 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,399 paid >> as it averaged out. That's what 161 00:11:46,079 --> 00:11:49,120 happened. >> So this is to fix that error. 162 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,200 » This is to fix that error. Correct. >> We are not exceeding the the mill levy. 163 00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:58,800 » No. compared to last year. >> Mill levy you adopted last year was I'm 164 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:04,240 sorry. Give me one moment here. I've got a uh 165 00:12:01,279 --> 00:12:07,240 I'm used to using a mouse, not a um 166 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:14,560 millia adopted last year total was 42.890. 167 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:21,680 The mill levy we're requesting this year is 42.269. So it's technically about a 168 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:25,600 point just over a 6 uh reduction in adopted mill levy versus this year 169 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:30,800 versus last year. Um most of that is 170 00:12:28,959 --> 00:12:34,720 uh I mean most of that change is coming out of the general fund and it's it you 171 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:40,240 know it's not nothing but it's we still we as we've shown you we still think we 172 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:47,519 can achieve a very close to uh you know your 15% reserve target next 173 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:51,839 year with this mill levy and other other revenue coming in as well. But we think 174 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:55,720 that you'll be able to achieve that with the mill levy we've proposed. 175 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:07,680 But the point of this exercise is to show you how much I mean you you would 176 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:12,800 wipe it out. You you would go negative in general fund I I believe without if 177 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:16,544 if you if you adopt the the RNR rate which is 37.4. [clears throat and cough] 178 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:34,560 questions. Just just a we we're using a lot of acronyms. We're saying a lot of 179 00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:39,120 words. Uh just want to put it out there real clearly that that the proposed 180 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:43,279 budget your property taxes will not increase. They will go slightly down 181 00:13:41,839 --> 00:13:46,000 » on the municipal side. >> And I can't talk about other taxing 182 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:50,959 agencies, but Yeah. For the portion you pay to your 183 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:54,480 city taxes that you were you would requesting that we are staff is 184 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:57,120 requesting that you adopt a budget that is about 6 mills lower than what you 185 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:02,480 adopted last year. >> So let's restate that because the mills 186 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:08,160 is only a part of what your tax bill is made on. So the property tax went up 5%. 187 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:11,920 Yeah. So even with Right. Right. Sorry. >> So so be careful. I mean we get mill 188 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,600 concerned confused with what you actually 189 00:14:12,399 --> 00:14:17,360 » right right yeah >> it's going up based on the assessed 190 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,560 valuation going up >> right but that's every year 191 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,920 » the point is it's going up less than it would have 192 00:14:21,199 --> 00:14:27,360 » correct >> had we increase the mill levy 193 00:14:23,839 --> 00:14:33,360 » right so the point of the RNR is to is to intentionally lower the amount of tax 194 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:40,000 paid and received to the dollar amount that was that was uh levied the prior 195 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:46,000 year. So the whole point of this is just the basically that what that shows is 196 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:49,680 between 4.890 and 37.447 mills that is the diff that's the impact that 197 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:53,680 valuation increase had overall for the city. Now, it's not going to hit not not 198 00:14:51,760 --> 00:15:00,079 everybody's house went up by that much, but citywide the total valuation 199 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:05,839 increased by for about five and a half mills versus 200 00:15:03,279 --> 00:15:09,120 um versus versus last year overall. Now, it 201 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,920 doesn't mean it's like I said, doesn't mean it's going to hit everybody, but 202 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:17,440 yes, the tax calculation is rate times base. So if your base went up because of 203 00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:20,480 uh because of appreciation and value, then even a lower rate is you're going 204 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,480 to pay more than you did the prior year. >> Right, 205 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:33,600 » Matt, when you're talking these totals, I'm just looking at the summary page. Um 206 00:15:31,199 --> 00:15:38,480 uh you know, it's got the actual tax rate from 26 with a total I mean the 207 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:42,279 different general debt service libraries in there. Um, 208 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:49,440 and so it's got the totals down at the bottom. So when you're Are you speaking 209 00:15:47,199 --> 00:15:53,279 of totals as far as >> Yeah. So the the to the amount you 210 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,600 actually adopted last year, and I can produce the certificate if you want to 211 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:59,920 look at it. The amount you actually adopted last year was 42.890 mills 212 00:15:57,839 --> 00:16:03,680 total. That, like I said, because it did not have the RNR rebate included in that 213 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,160 that it it the county artificially lowered it. 214 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:09,519 » The amount of revenue you're receiving >> got as to what is showing on the actual 215 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:12,399 tax on the the actual that's what it automatically brought it down to is that 216 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:15,680 actual tax amount. >> Um 217 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:20,040 okay, that's that was my question. 218 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,040 » Yeah. 219 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:31,040 » But be I'm not saying we're doing anything wrong here, but um if you do 220 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:35,440 have a motion or anybody wants to make a motion to exceed the RNR, we still need 221 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:39,680 to have budget hearing discussions in the regular budget hearing. So Okay. 222 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:46,240 Yeah, good point. We're probably getting into that next hearing. [clears throat] 223 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:47,759 This I think this resolution is just to exceed 224 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:55,199 » Yeah. Revenue. >> Revenue neutral. 225 00:16:50,079 --> 00:16:58,199 The next one is by how much? >> Right. 226 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:06,319 » Right. Doesn't mean we have to. >> So, okay. 227 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:08,079 » When will that do we know when that hearing is going to be? 228 00:17:06,959 --> 00:17:10,559 » Right. Right. >> Oh. Oh. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yes. 229 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:13,439 » I'm snatched. >> Okay. 230 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:16,160 » Was like I'm slightly confused, but now it makes sense. 231 00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:19,919 » Okay. Thank you. >> So, just so we're clear, a yes vote is 232 00:17:17,919 --> 00:17:23,280 to exceed revenue neutral and no vote would be not to. 233 00:17:21,039 --> 00:17:23,280 » Yes. 234 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,760 has everyone had an opportunity to go through and kind of look at it and make 235 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:41,039 a decision to go ahead and uh >> just to be clear um 236 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:45,679 because and I know I'm getting into the weeds on it, but because of the the the 237 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:50,160 library uh error that occurred that we now have to there would be no way that 238 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:53,840 we could go less than revenue neutral because we have to have the pass through 239 00:17:52,799 --> 00:17:56,559 from them. I >> mean, you could it just come out of the 240 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:59,440 budget somewhere else, >> but it's a pass through. I mean, it's it 241 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,880 shouldn't come out of our budget at all, >> but it was a shortfall, 242 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:07,200 » right? >> So, you either pay the shortfall back 243 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:11,960 out of your budget or you you pass it through with with higher mill rate. 244 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:22,400 » We understand that. But if you wanted to make them [snorts] 245 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:26,080 whole, uh, yes, it would have to come out of your budget. I mean, there's no 246 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:29,520 there's no way to get around RNR because of that. You still have the authority to 247 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:33,160 set the levy. So, it's still >> okay. 248 00:18:29,919 --> 00:18:33,160 » Up to you. 249 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:46,960 » So, real quick with the library. So, the library is good with what you presented 250 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:51,120 in working with Matt the resolution of the 251 00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:53,840 shortfall last year. >> Yes. Okay. 252 00:18:52,160 --> 00:19:01,400 » Included in the budget that I >> That's what I thought. Okay. 253 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:01,400 » Okay. Just want to make sure. 254 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:11,600 » That's all I had. No, they're kind of I don't want to push everyone if they 255 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:19,039 don't want to to kind of move this along, but are we discussion complete? 256 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:24,320 » If so, I'll move that we pass resolution number 2026-10 257 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:27,840 um to with the ability to exceed the revenue neutral rate. 258 00:19:26,799 --> 00:19:31,520 » A second. >> Okay, have a motion [clears throat] and 259 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:37,200 a second. I will now call for a roll call vote on resolution 2026 hyphen 10. 260 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:41,440 I'll start to my left and move to my right. Council Lordson, 261 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,440 » yes. >> Councilman Vendibal, 262 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,280 » yes. >> Council Lynch, 263 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:51,080 » yes. >> Council King, 264 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:51,080 » no. Motion passed. 265 00:19:51,360 --> 00:20:00,640 Next thing we move to is resolution 2026, 266 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:05,840 uh, the hearing for the budget, the 2027 budget. And I will now open to 267 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:09,760 the public for the hearing for the 27 budget. Again, this is an opportunity 268 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:13,679 from anyone from the public to step up and voice their concerns or maybe 269 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:17,919 questions they might have. Much like our previous open form, I asked if you 270 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:21,880 approach the pro podium, you please provide your name and address. 271 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:33,919 » Yeah. My name is Jim Breitman. I live at 50510th Street. sitting through this, 272 00:20:32,724 --> 00:20:37,200 [sighs and gasps] you mentioned that you were speaking a 273 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:43,840 lot of acronyms. I had no idea who this person is. I have no idea what was just 274 00:20:39,679 --> 00:20:46,720 said. It was just all code. I don't know how you expect us to have 275 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:50,120 any comments if we don't know what you're talking about. 276 00:20:51,919 --> 00:20:57,520 I mean, could we make this a little bit clearer? What's what's RNR? 277 00:20:55,039 --> 00:21:01,600 » Revenue neutral rate. >> Okay. 278 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:07,679 And if I understood correctly, there were some monies that were collected 279 00:21:04,799 --> 00:21:12,240 that were rebated last year and that's what caused some of 280 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:16,080 the problems. Is that correct? >> I 281 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,080 Scott the library. >> That's what that's what I'm saying. This 282 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:24,080 is >> you know and I I think you you bring up 283 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:28,240 a valid point. Uh Matt Lawn, can I have you address this gentleman's concerns? 284 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:33,360 Yeah. So, I'll I'll just start with what what revenue neutral rate is. Revenue 285 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:38,720 neutral rate is a rate uh a tax rate that if the council were to levy that it 286 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:42,240 would not it would essentially it would collect the same amount of the same 287 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:46,159 dollar amount of tax as they collected last year. So, let's assume for the 288 00:21:43,679 --> 00:21:51,200 prior year they collected $100 >> um and but they charged a 1% rate. Well, 289 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:54,960 let's say they kept a 1% rate but the value of the house went up to $105. So, 290 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:59,280 they're going to collect $5. they would collect $5 more just keeping the same 291 00:21:56,799 --> 00:22:05,840 flat rate. But because they intentionally lowered the amount of 292 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:10,120 their rate to offset the uh increase in valuation would have generated. 293 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:18,240 » Yeah. Well, okay. But okay. So, >> podium. 294 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:23,919 » So, NRP is a neighbor neighborhood revitalization program. And what that 295 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:30,240 means is that um qualifying properties in that are eligible to get a rebate on 296 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:33,840 a portion of their tax. Uh essentially what the I'm I'm going to speak very 297 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:37,600 broad terms here, but essentially any improvements they make to their home 298 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:41,280 that would have increased the value, uh they get that portion of the value 299 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:45,760 rebated in in the amount of tax they paid. So let's say you know your your 300 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:49,200 house is worth $100,000, but the work you put into it doubles that value. you 301 00:22:47,679 --> 00:22:54,159 would only pay value and I'm using extreme situation here that's not so 302 00:22:51,679 --> 00:22:57,760 basically what happened is uh normally when you are going when when you're 303 00:22:55,679 --> 00:23:01,360 filling out the budget form you need to anticipate the amount that you're going 304 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:05,520 to rebate when you adopt the budget and last year that the the amount that was 305 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:10,240 going to be rebated was taken into account for budget adoption but the 306 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:13,520 amount that was uh they didn't we didn't do the offset on the revenue side of 307 00:23:11,919 --> 00:23:15,840 that. So normally what you would do is you would figure out what that amount 308 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:20,159 that you're going to rebate is and you would add that to the amount of tax 309 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:23,919 you're going to levy so that you have that much more that can be paid back 310 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:28,080 when you pay those rebates rather than not charge not having it included in the 311 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:32,159 the levy in the first place. So that's what happened. There's different kinds 312 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:36,080 of these economic development programs that are, you know, meant for homeowners 313 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:39,919 to increase or to, you know, encourage uh, you know, investment in their homes 314 00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:42,799 so they can, you know, get get more value out of it, which, you know, on one 315 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:46,640 side is going to generate more value for the cities. But again, it's going to 316 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:51,039 also, you know, the natural impact of, you know, improving, uh, you know, 317 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:56,320 neighborhoods and residents like that, you know, helps, you know, beautify the 318 00:23:53,679 --> 00:24:00,480 the the city and helps, you know, spur more development. So different ones work 319 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:05,520 different ways. Like we were talking I was we probably also heard us talking 320 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:10,320 about the RHID which is a a rural housing incentive district program which 321 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:15,840 is through the state that is a similar program in that you know you are um it 322 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:20,080 it takes into account the increased value of a home based on some kind of 323 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:24,640 economic incentive or economic development program. But the way that 324 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:29,120 one works is that the before the city gets notified of what their increase in 325 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:32,480 valuation is, the increase in valuation that would have applied to that property 326 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:36,960 is automatically taken off first. So it doesn't get calculated with taxes the 327 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:41,360 same way that NRP does. >> So what percentage of the property 328 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:45,840 within that local density is taxing has some sort of a rebate attached to it? 329 00:24:43,039 --> 00:24:50,480 And can the average person >> there? It's it the way the program 330 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:55,039 works. It it that's very specific on who can who qualifies for it. It usually has 331 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:58,720 to do I I'm not the right person to ask about inter I'm not very 332 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:02,320 » so so usually so I can answer some of that questions is is usually a lot of 333 00:25:00,799 --> 00:25:06,400 times it's it's a it's a new construction. If they built a new house 334 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:10,960 that would automatically qualify. If they, let's say you added on to your 335 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:18,400 house and you increased your value 10% or greater, then you could get it on 336 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:22,559 that 10% or greater that it added value. >> How's the person supposed to know this? 337 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:25,360 » Well, um, >> you fill out your building permit 338 00:25:23,679 --> 00:25:27,279 » when like as far as like building permits 339 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,320 » then >> was that the contractors fill out the 340 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:34,320 permits? >> Not necessarily. A lot of times, I would 341 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:39,279 say probably eight out of 10 people that fill out permits here in town are are 342 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:45,279 actually are homeowners from from from my experience. Um there is there's some 343 00:25:41,679 --> 00:25:50,000 stuff on the website um you know that used to be we used to do a lot of NRP 344 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:52,880 but now it's really gone into RID where it's the rural housing incentive 345 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:57,600 district. It's >> my concern is this. If you're giving 346 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:05,200 rebates to the people that are building the new $300,000 plus houses, where's 347 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:08,799 the burden of that lost revenue falling? It's falling on the people who are 348 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:13,080 living in the older houses in town and among many of us are on fixed incomes. 349 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:26,960 And I'll also jump in with Russ here. If you're building in the RID, if you're 350 00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:31,520 one of the developments that's a RID project, you can't get the NRP. 351 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:36,400 » Yeah. So, cuz because with RID, the RID, like say for a subdivision, if they if 352 00:26:33,919 --> 00:26:41,120 they put in the subdivision, the RID, it goes back to the developer. Um, which 353 00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:44,960 that helps cover the cost for, you know, the infrastructure and, you know, for 354 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:47,960 the roads, utilities, and those kinds of things. 355 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:56,320 » I'm new to town here. been here a couple years. One of the main concerns I've 356 00:26:54,159 --> 00:27:01,440 heard over the years is the good old boy network that was in place before where 357 00:26:59,039 --> 00:27:08,000 if you were connected, you could get your house, you get these things built 358 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:11,200 and you get a test. >> Well, I you know, I think some of those 359 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:17,440 things and the only thing I can address about that is just the rumors, a lot of 360 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:20,000 it. Uh I I >> No, no, no. I understand I understand 361 00:27:18,799 --> 00:27:23,840 what you're saying because you know I've been I've had people voice those rumors 362 00:27:21,679 --> 00:27:31,360 to me and say hey here you know you and I discuss this uh and u you know I can 363 00:27:27,039 --> 00:27:35,440 assure you at least coming into this I I can see nothing like that taking place 364 00:27:33,279 --> 00:27:40,159 now. We still have some programs out here to encourage growth and try to 365 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:44,480 attract building. And let me explain why. Cuz like you, I'm like, how are we 366 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:48,559 how are we going to benefit from this when the builders are getting all the 367 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:52,159 brakes and you and I, cuz I'm like you, I'm not getting kind of red program or 368 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:58,000 anything. I haven't made an improvement on the house. But the goal is not for 369 00:27:55,360 --> 00:28:02,480 today. It's for 5 years down the road when all this new construction starts 370 00:28:00,559 --> 00:28:07,200 paying those taxes, starts paying utilities because we get that benefit 371 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:12,240 while they're there. That's we're trying to look forward down the road. Uh and 372 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:17,120 and you know to answer your question about well how's the person know this? I 373 00:28:14,399 --> 00:28:19,679 I understand uh believe me I really do but sometimes that's one of those things 374 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:25,120 you just kind of have to get out and research see what's out there talk to a 375 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:28,559 builder see what they say or you know call city hall and go are there any 376 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:33,520 programs that I can get a break on trying to improve my house my windows or 377 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:35,600 or whatever. And I know that's not going to make you happy. You know what I'm 378 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,000 saying? I'm just trying to explain a little bit. 379 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:43,279 » My point also is you're looking to the future. If I'm looking at what looks to 380 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:51,120 me to be on mine roughly 381 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:58,559 a 19.1% proposed tax, that's going to double my property tax every 3.7 years. 382 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:04,559 » What number are you reading? >> Top there. It says the proposed tax 383 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:08,799 exceeding the 2025 tax. >> Is that county? 384 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:11,799 » That's city. body. 385 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:21,520 » So they're not >> you want to step up to nobody can hear. 386 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:26,480 » Okay. So this is this this notice goes out when you uh notify the county that 387 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:29,600 you are going to exceed RNR. And what they do is when they send out this 388 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:36,640 notice, they put in the maximum amount of that you allow yourself to adopt 389 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:39,520 above RNR. you for you guys that was um 390 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:43,760 » yeah Baldwin's on the >> at the top there. So for you guys that 391 00:29:41,279 --> 00:29:49,120 was 45.4 mills. The mills we're proposing is 42 392 00:29:46,559 --> 00:29:53,279 uh 468 I believe. I I don't have my >> Yeah, they just send out the most 393 00:29:50,799 --> 00:29:57,120 extreme scenario I guess. So again, they're not they're not actually going 394 00:29:55,279 --> 00:30:01,919 to adopt that amount, but they let you they they're required to uh you know, 395 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:04,080 should they're required to notify the county of something if they plan to go 396 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:09,120 above >> that automatic reduction in mills. So we 397 00:30:06,559 --> 00:30:13,840 they built in because it was it's it you have to you have to report that by July 398 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:17,120 20th at the latest to the county. And so because we were still working out what 399 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:20,640 exactly the mill levy was going to need to be to accomplish what they need to 400 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:24,240 accomplish this year, we put in that number to give them room to do it. And 401 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:29,760 that's that's not an uncommon practice. A lot of times with this uh the notice 402 00:30:27,039 --> 00:30:33,919 that was sent out again, I mean uh the notice that Russ actually sent out this 403 00:30:31,679 --> 00:30:38,399 that they approved to send out for this hearing actually included a higher mill 404 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:41,039 levy also than what we're proposing they adopt tonight. 405 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:45,200 » Right. With that and with that understanding, again, I'm assuming that 406 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:50,000 the council is looking at this and and considering when you're compounding 407 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:53,279 these increases, how frequently that's going to double because for the people 408 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:56,720 who are on fixed incomes, that's an important issue because the same thing's 409 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:59,120 happening with insurance on the homes. And I think what you're going to have 410 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:03,840 happen is you're going to have the potential here for 411 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:06,320 not to be for retired people not be able to stay here because they can't afford 412 00:31:05,279 --> 00:31:09,320 it. >> Yeah. 413 00:31:09,679 --> 00:31:15,039 Well, you know, and the other thing I can just tell you, and it might not seem 414 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:18,799 like it, and I'm sure to the public it doesn't, 415 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:23,279 that they say, "Well, the council and the mayor just sets up here and doesn't 416 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:26,799 try to consider the average person within this community and tax rates and 417 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:31,919 things going up." But I can assure you, and I'm sincere, every single one of 418 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:36,880 these people up here really look at this and try to do the best they can to keep 419 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:42,320 everything where we can to make the city manageable and livable. Uh, and I know 420 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:46,480 doesn't matter to you, doesn't matter to me, but I just talked to a friend up in 421 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:50,399 Synica today who's been up there now for 5 years. She goes, "Can your council 422 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:55,039 come up here? We've got hit twice again on mill levies and are talking about 423 00:31:51,919 --> 00:31:57,440 doing another one." Uh, so it's and it's always Yeah, that's the neighbor. But 424 00:31:56,159 --> 00:32:01,039 I'm just letting you know we really try very hard. At least since I've been 425 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:04,080 here, it's everyone's tried hard. >> No, and I'm not going to dispute that 426 00:32:02,159 --> 00:32:09,279 you're not. I just wanted those concerns and also I just wanted to 427 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:12,399 » sitting in the audience. It just it felt like a good old boy club because I 428 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:16,000 didn't understand a thing. >> That that's on me. 429 00:32:13,679 --> 00:32:19,760 » No, that's why that's I always try to explain it a couple more times 430 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:22,752 afterwards cuz I'm like nobody's unders made a comment. I worked at state 431 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,159 government and I'm I'm equally as [clears throat] guilty of it when we 432 00:32:23,679 --> 00:32:26,640 would get >> Yeah, 433 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:31,120 » it's the acronyms, man. Yeah, >> back and that's what I was asking. 434 00:32:28,559 --> 00:32:37,640 » No, I appreciate it. I I agree. >> And thank Hey, thank you for stepping up 435 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:37,640 and asking. It's very nice of you. 436 00:32:37,679 --> 00:32:44,000 » Oh, and to answer your first question, I'm sorry. This is Matt Baker Tilly is 437 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:48,320 the finance uh group that we uh they advise uh the committee as well as the 438 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:52,240 council on budget decisions. They they're the ones who um externally 439 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:54,080 manage our budget. And this is Matt Lawn. 440 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:58,960 » I wasn't sure if he was you're accountant or exactly. 441 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:02,000 » So I'm I'm a certified public finance officer, meaning that I've gone through 442 00:33:00,399 --> 00:33:05,279 the training by the government finance officer association. I was the finance 443 00:33:03,679 --> 00:33:09,840 director for the city of Goddard, west of Witchah for 13 years. Uh joined Baker 444 00:33:07,919 --> 00:33:13,842 Tilly a couple years ago and I do financial advising for municipalities. 445 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:18,320 Oh, you're 13. Okay. Yeah. [clears throat] 446 00:33:14,799 --> 00:33:21,440 » Thank you. Any other questions on the hearing? Public 447 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:24,840 hearing have an opportunity to come up and say something. 448 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:36,559 Hi there, Jeff Flory, 215 Highway 56. >> [sighs and gasps] 449 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:43,840 » I know you guys have a really tough job and take this very serious, but looking 450 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:48,080 over the figures here, I just have one question 451 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:57,840 on the the totals. The 2026 was 18 million 452 00:33:53,919 --> 00:34:04,960 and we're jumping to 21.8 million for proposed 2027. 453 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:10,200 So, where is that 3.8 million increase going? That would be my question. 454 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:18,720 » So, Matt, you may help us here with those totals. 455 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:23,280 » That's right off of your page 18 out of your information packet. 456 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:28,560 » So, you know, this also shows electric utility, water utility. So, so 457 00:34:25,599 --> 00:34:35,760 » you you're looking at the summer expenditures. Yeah. 458 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:39,200 Yeah. So this is uh this is actually um yeah you you do have the more accurate 459 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:44,560 one the the updated one based on the actual mill levy. So the increase is 460 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:48,639 this 21 number right here is not a budget for expenditures. It's a budget 461 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:52,159 for expenditure authority. What that means is this is the amount that they 462 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:56,079 are approving to that they give themselves the opportunity to spend. But 463 00:34:54,240 --> 00:35:01,839 when we're developing these budgets, we are also building in their reserve fund 464 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:04,240 balance as a uh [laughter] 465 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:09,440 essentially they're they're budgeting their fund balance as an expenditure. So 466 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:12,400 if they wanted to, they could they could spend down to zero dollars for the next 467 00:35:12,079 --> 00:35:15,359 year. >> Didn't we do that last year too or a 468 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:18,320 year before? >> This is this is what they anticipate 469 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:22,000 they will actually spend this year. >> Yeah. This is what they actually spent 470 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:26,240 last year and this is what they will this is includes 471 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:29,200 » so they only spent 17 million then last year 472 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:33,839 » right but again that is not a number that they plan to spend that is the that 473 00:35:31,359 --> 00:35:39,839 is the legal authority of what they could spend but the and the reason you 474 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:44,480 do that is because if they did not uh budget the that amount of fund balance 475 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:49,680 in their budget it would automatically reduce the amount they can levy. So 476 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:55,520 » and Isn't that the whole purpose of a budget? So you don't overspend. 477 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:58,400 » Yes. And this is but like I said that's that's what I said that's that's the 478 00:35:57,119 --> 00:36:01,200 limit on what they can spend. >> Okay. 479 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:04,560 » That includes that. So that is enough to operate the city plus if they 480 00:36:03,489 --> 00:36:08,480 [clears throat] plus it includes the amount of their 481 00:36:06,079 --> 00:36:11,839 » um essentially of their their cash that they'll have at the end of the year 482 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:15,839 going into next year. If they needed to in an emergency situation they could 483 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:20,079 spend up to that much. So it's all and this is the way that every city and 484 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:24,800 every county operates is the way the state forms work. The whole per the 485 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:30,720 purpose of the of the budget process is a to give yourself the legal authority 486 00:36:27,599 --> 00:36:36,160 to spend but also the process is to determine what your tax uh what the tax 487 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:39,680 will be and so and just based on the way the formulas work for the state form 488 00:36:37,839 --> 00:36:46,079 that's how they do it. So, it's not actually a budget to go above the uh to 489 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,880 spend an additional $3 million. That includes a lot of carryover fund 490 00:36:47,359 --> 00:36:53,680 balance. For instance, if you look here on the I'm going to bring this up so 491 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:56,320 everybody can see it. If you look >> I think one of the confusing parts are 492 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:58,720 there. >> There's no there's no easy way to 493 00:36:57,599 --> 00:37:00,960 explain this. >> You're not looking at if you're looking 494 00:36:59,920 --> 00:37:06,800 at the state form. >> They're mixing 495 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:11,680 um sales tax and utility rate revenue with the whole mill levy. So that's 496 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:15,040 everything. So we've been talking mil levy for the general fund and all a 497 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:20,800 sudden this thing shows the max authority on sales tax revenue expected 498 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:25,920 and and and utilities which a separate budget in this includes everything the 499 00:37:23,839 --> 00:37:30,480 city is legally allowed to spend for over multiple funds and but and the way 500 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:33,280 fund accounting works is that there's different rules for each type of 501 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:36,720 government operation. So the general fund uh you know that's where your tax 502 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:41,839 money is received and that's where it's either spent for certain services like 503 00:37:39,599 --> 00:37:45,839 police, fire or it gets transferred out to other services that use a certain 504 00:37:43,839 --> 00:37:48,960 amount of money. Uh debt service that is where they make their debt payments from 505 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:53,040 money that they're already obligated to pay back that they levy a debt for that 506 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:56,400 that gets paid from there. Uh the library that is a pass through to where 507 00:37:54,720 --> 00:38:00,560 they levy on behalf of the library and the library receives those funds for 508 00:37:57,839 --> 00:38:04,960 their operations. uh cemetery operates similarly and then you've got all these 509 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:09,599 utility funds farther down here like water wastewater just guesstimates. 510 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:12,960 » Yes. >> So So every budget's a guesstimate. 511 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:15,200 » Yeah. >> We don't know to the dollar amount what 512 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:18,640 they're going to spend. >> Well that that was my question when you 513 00:38:17,599 --> 00:38:22,640 see that >> 3.8 million. 514 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:27,200 » But again I would I would I would reiterate it's not it's not that they 515 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:31,680 are going to spend that. It's that's the uh essentially the bottom line of what 516 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:37,359 the legal process for budgeting allows them to uh legally spend if they had to. 517 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:40,680 » Jeff did today answer your question for the most part. 518 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:44,200 Anyone else? 519 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:50,480 » 27. >> I'm sorry, Jeff. Did that answer your 520 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:53,119 question? Okay. Thank you, sir. Uh, I seeing no one else that wants to 521 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:58,560 approach, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing and ask that I 522 00:38:56,240 --> 00:39:02,720 go through and introduce resolution 2026 hip-h 523 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:08,599 which authorized the city to approve the 2027 budget. Now turn over to council 524 00:39:05,359 --> 00:39:08,599 for discussion. 525 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:21,280 So, I guess I'm interested in um understanding, Councilman King, you 526 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:24,960 know, where your suggestion would be to um get back to revenue neutral in a 527 00:39:23,359 --> 00:39:30,640 budget. >> Well, I just basically was thinking like 528 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:36,000 I don't know what we're going to do with mill levies, if you guys are going to if 529 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:40,560 we're potentially raise them or not. And I don't didn't want to do one or the 530 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:44,280 other. So I I voted no. 531 00:39:45,359 --> 00:39:49,467 » Okay. But you do realize >> I do. 532 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:52,160 » Revenue neutral would have been about [clears throat] 5% y 533 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:53,680 » less than what we've been talking about in the budget. 534 00:39:52,800 --> 00:40:00,960 » Yep. >> Okay. And at the when we uh voted 535 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:08,079 two months ago to even exceed revenue neutral, uh I kind of if if you go back 536 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:13,839 and watch, I was pausing then and and I uh and I I voted with you guys to say 537 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:18,480 yes to exceed revenue neutral to have the possibility of it. And it just I it 538 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:23,839 didn't sit well with me. And so I'm just correcting my vote from earlier this 539 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:26,960 year. That's all. >> Don't get me wrong, I would support a 540 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:30,320 revenue neutral if we could find a way to 541 00:40:27,599 --> 00:40:33,280 » I mean, you got to have a plan to do it. >> Yep. 542 00:40:31,119 --> 00:40:36,240 » Um and I would be all over on board with it. You know, that's why we went through 543 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,599 that exercise and you saw how difficult it was. 544 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:42,400 » I know. >> Um and I didn't since there was much 545 00:40:39,839 --> 00:40:46,560 appetite from anybody to do that level of cuts, which is what it would require 546 00:40:44,079 --> 00:40:49,440 to get to this revenue revenue control. So, 547 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:56,240 » just wanted some clarification. Maybe you had something that you were 548 00:40:51,359 --> 00:40:59,839 » No, I mean I I I mean I think I it you know it goes back to me saying we could 549 00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:00,960 sell the building to maybe help with that a little bit. 550 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:05,359 » Yeah. >> And still still valid 551 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:07,680 » and we could next year but obviously I don't want to do that while there's 552 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:12,400 tenants in there. >> So I get that part but um 553 00:41:11,599 --> 00:41:17,440 » yeah. >> So do I want to would I want to cut 5% 554 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:21,359 to what we you know when we did the exercise? No. because there was things 555 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:27,119 in there we need. But um with the off with the off chance that 556 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:32,000 we may increase mill levies cuz I mean I haven't talked to anyone about the 557 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:37,119 increases. I'm that that's why I voted no. So I appreciate that. That's that 558 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:41,200 that's that makes sense, you know, and I guess the conversation needs to be what 559 00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:46,000 we're proposing is not a mill levy increase in this budget. Correct. 560 00:41:43,119 --> 00:41:49,760 » Right. No mill levy increase. But even though that's the plan, I mean if 561 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:54,240 » and once we pass that >> Well, I know I know once we pass it, but 562 00:41:51,599 --> 00:41:58,480 I'm saying if you three wanted to say, "Hey, we let tonight Russ we want to do 563 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:00,560 a mill levy increase, >> right?" 564 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:03,440 » Then >> so I mean absolutely right. 565 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:06,480 » I don't know cuz I I don't talk to you guys about how we're voting. 566 00:42:04,319 --> 00:42:11,040 » No, no, I get it. So is that's why we're having this discussion. if we if anybody 567 00:42:09,359 --> 00:42:12,720 supports a mill levy increase, we need to have that conversation. 568 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:17,280 » Yeah. >> And understand why and maybe change some 569 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:20,800 minds or not. But that's >> that's really the conversation is you 570 00:42:19,359 --> 00:42:24,480 have good ideas like I didn't think about that. Let's you know, jump on 571 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:26,400 board. So >> yeah, 572 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:31,920 » I'm I'm not for raising the mill. >> I do not want to raise the mill levy. 573 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:34,240 » So you won't hear that recommendation from me. 574 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:36,400 » Okay. Well, I mean, >> but now we're at the point we can talk 575 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:38,880 about it. So >> yeah, 576 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:42,319 » and that's what kind of makes it tricky is obviously we don't want to talk we 577 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:45,280 can't talk about it behind closed doors, >> right? 578 00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:48,240 » Cuz then that's colluding. But when it's this is the only opportunity for us to 579 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:52,319 all talk about it, >> it you know that's what makes it pretty 580 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:57,520 difficult >> because we only have a short amount of 581 00:42:54,480 --> 00:43:02,200 time to talk rather than sit down and you know really discuss it. So, 582 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:10,640 so I guess the only other things I had from last time we talked about budget 583 00:43:08,319 --> 00:43:14,480 that we're making some decisions were left open around the chamber and the 584 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:20,160 maple. Correct, Russ? You had all of the cuts 585 00:43:19,119 --> 00:43:23,040 loaded in >> all the cut all the budget. 586 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:26,640 » Yeah, all the cuts are still loaded in this budget. So, I know there's 587 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:30,640 discussion around splitting that up and reducing the cuts 588 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:33,440 this year. What are your thoughts on that? 589 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:36,800 » I mean, the I guess my thought is is that if if you do want to switch that 590 00:43:35,359 --> 00:43:38,800 up, then where are you going to take it from? 591 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:42,800 » It comes out of reserve. >> So, it would have to potentially come 592 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:47,839 out of reserve or you would have to cut something that's already already in 593 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:51,440 there. So, >> well, you know, I I in my kind of again 594 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:54,720 simplistic view and people go, "Yeah, he's real simplistic and I understand it 595 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:58,960 and I get that." But, you know, the way I see this budget, we've kind of 596 00:43:56,240 --> 00:44:03,920 basically went through cut and rated everything we could possibly do to get 597 00:44:01,359 --> 00:44:06,880 to the budget that we have and that if we want to go through and start taking 598 00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:11,040 away and increasing, we're gonna have, as Council Lord said, we're gonna have 599 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:15,760 to do something somewhere else. We just can't, you know, and I know again me 600 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:21,760 come back being the doomsayer. I'm telling you right now, Topeka is going 601 00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:26,160 to pass that 3% cap. I'm telling you, it's there. They're going to do it this 602 00:44:23,359 --> 00:44:29,280 time. And I think we need to be prepared because Jay, I was one of the ones to 603 00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:36,960 sit here and go, I want to go mail right now because we need to be prepared not 604 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:44,000 just for this year, but going into 2027, 2028, we need some momentum to carry us 605 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:48,240 in. And it's uncomfortable, but it's just I I think we're better prepared if 606 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:53,440 we did that. But with the with the budget we've come out with now, I go 607 00:44:51,119 --> 00:44:57,359 with what you all want. I I'm good with it. Personally, I don't I'm like you 608 00:44:56,079 --> 00:45:01,280 all. I don't want to raise a mill, but there's going to be some point we are 609 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:05,599 going to have to. Our backs are going to be against the wall. 610 00:45:02,319 --> 00:45:08,800 » I don't know that that's accurate. I I We had such a strange year where 611 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:13,359 assessed value was so down. That's why we're in this math problem here. And I I 612 00:45:11,440 --> 00:45:17,839 just wonder if it's going to if it's going to average out somewhere in the 613 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:20,400 middle there and we won't have as as I don't I don't know that it's as 614 00:45:18,880 --> 00:45:25,440 inevitable as we're thinking. And we don't know exactly what if it's going to 615 00:45:22,240 --> 00:45:30,560 be a 3% cap or what until they go back to the state house in January and do it. 616 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:36,560 But um I mean but even if Corey though if 617 00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:39,280 the property taxes next year come in at a higher rate, we still wouldn't it 618 00:45:38,079 --> 00:45:46,000 doesn't matter because it would just be 3%. So, but but Scott, that is why I 619 00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:49,839 voted no because not that I knew the mayor was going to say that he would 620 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:52,640 like to do a mill, but just in case someone 621 00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:54,960 » did suggest it, >> you know that. 622 00:45:54,240 --> 00:45:58,160 » So, >> it's got it. 623 00:45:55,920 --> 00:46:02,160 » It's 3% ex in addition to your previous year's 624 00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:07,440 budget. >> It's 3%. Um I think the growth doesn't 625 00:46:05,359 --> 00:46:13,240 count in that, right? So, if we add property rooftops, million taxion 626 00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:19,520 » regardless of >> no 30,000 30,000 627 00:46:18,720 --> 00:46:21,839 » the tax base. >> It's not a percentage of the mill levy. 628 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:26,000 It's a percentage of >> the property tax but we can't couldn't 629 00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:29,520 also raise mills because we've already done the 3% because the 3%'s always been 630 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:31,760 on the property >> percentage of the property tax. 631 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:36,560 » It's both correct. >> So it depends on what they decide it 632 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:41,680 that I mean I I will tell you this. It depends on what they what was proposed 633 00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:45,319 was a 3% cap >> on revenue period 634 00:46:47,359 --> 00:46:54,720 » if you you know collect sales tax all day whatever you have you get. But for 635 00:46:52,480 --> 00:46:59,119 specific for real real property tax if you levy a million dollars last year you 636 00:46:56,400 --> 00:47:04,960 can only levy $1 million $30,000 this year. Even if your value 637 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:08,880 » number number of propert not even the val you know just the number of 638 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:14,000 » the property tax based on growth >> the the one that that this year that 639 00:47:11,599 --> 00:47:18,240 » sustainable anybody that knows anything >> that's why the governor vetoed it 640 00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:20,800 » like that doesn't work anybody >> the legislature has been doing this for 641 00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:25,839 as long as I >> I cannot they had the they had the tax 642 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:29,839 lids they had the uh RNR they had you know various ways to try to you know 643 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:34,800 limit the amount that cities with their home rules power to levy taxes. We're 644 00:47:31,520 --> 00:47:38,960 allowed to levy and so now they've it's likely they will have the political 645 00:47:36,560 --> 00:47:42,720 power to get it passed next year. >> Well, I sincerely hope Jay and everyone 646 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:46,800 Cory can look at me and go, "See, I told you so it didn't pass." And I'm sincere 647 00:47:44,240 --> 00:47:49,200 about that. I really am on that 3%. No, it'd be great. 648 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:52,880 » Agree with So, I agree that something's coming because I mean, I've talked to 649 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:55,040 people and >> I get it. But, 650 00:47:54,480 --> 00:47:58,400 » yeah, >> until we know what it is, I don't know 651 00:47:56,800 --> 00:48:01,440 how we can fight it >> and do what's best. Yeah, I agree with 652 00:48:00,720 --> 00:48:07,760 that to >> because what if you know say we you did 653 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:14,400 want to raise the mill and then they come back and then they don't it doesn't 654 00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:21,440 pass for some some reason or it's not at 3% he gets it to 5% or 6%. Well then 655 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:26,640 that's more in line with what our increase usually is. So, just 656 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:30,559 to be clear, the way it the way it would have worked had it passed this year is 657 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:33,200 you would still be able to levy whatever you want to. You just have to go to a 658 00:48:31,839 --> 00:48:35,839 vote if the dollar amount is going to be above 3% more than the prior year. So, 659 00:48:35,440 --> 00:48:39,680 » yeah, >> a vote 660 00:48:37,119 --> 00:48:44,240 » by the city the holdition 661 00:48:41,760 --> 00:48:46,640 of 5% or something >> um would 662 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:52,160 » Yeah, it's a very low threshold for what the petition would require for a vote. 663 00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:57,440 So, it's something like uh I want to say it was like 5% of the average of the 664 00:48:54,800 --> 00:48:59,040 prior number of voters in the prior election or some something similar to 665 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:01,760 that. >> You'd have to do that right before the 666 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:03,440 primary so you don't spend every community be spending 40 grand on an 667 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:04,800 election. >> And that's another thing that they 668 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:07,119 that's >> you have to move the schedule. 669 00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:10,720 » That's another one of the reasons it failed was or the the governor vetoed at 670 00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:13,920 least with what she said was because they didn't put that timing into 671 00:49:12,559 --> 00:49:16,960 account. It would not have worked this year. It's important 672 00:49:15,359 --> 00:49:20,720 » and that's that's my big question with it because you get your count the 673 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:22,240 assessed valuation from the county say mid June say 674 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:27,520 » you have a month >> so but to get stuff on the ballot you've 675 00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:31,440 got to have it 60 to 90 days ahead of time so the primary election that would 676 00:49:29,520 --> 00:49:34,240 take place in August you wouldn't be able to hit so right 677 00:49:32,800 --> 00:49:36,640 » you would have to hit the November election 678 00:49:35,119 --> 00:49:39,920 » guessing that's by design >> well and so so there's there's a whole 679 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:43,200 bunch of >> so does the county get capped in the 680 00:49:42,240 --> 00:49:46,240 school district and >> well And so that's that's the other 681 00:49:45,119 --> 00:49:49,920 question. >> Are we still doing a valuation? What's 682 00:49:48,319 --> 00:49:53,760 the point if it's just a cap? >> Well, so the I don't think it was going 683 00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:56,720 to hit the whatever number of mills schools are automatically allowed for 684 00:49:55,839 --> 00:49:58,559 » 20. Yeah. >> 20 I think. Yeah. 685 00:49:57,839 --> 00:50:01,680 » Oh, >> it would have applied to 686 00:50:00,480 --> 00:50:05,520 » would have applied to counties. It would have applied to uh you know the other 687 00:50:03,760 --> 00:50:09,040 other taxing districts as well. So >> let let me ask you this then going back 688 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:13,359 to the question gentleman answered earlier. boil this down to the public so 689 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:17,520 they understand because really as Jay said, we we're just kind of dealing in 690 00:50:15,119 --> 00:50:22,400 hypotheticals right now. We really are just guessing uh and look and and 691 00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:26,160 talking back and forth as the budget stands right now for the community, 692 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:28,720 throwing acronyms out and stuff. What are I mean, what are we looking at? 693 00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:33,920 » Let me let me put it this way. I think most people can understand this. the 694 00:50:31,599 --> 00:50:37,599 when we talk about the need to increase uh you know taxes we're talking about 695 00:50:35,599 --> 00:50:40,480 the need because we have increased costs you know and we call that typically we 696 00:50:39,119 --> 00:50:44,559 call that inflation if it's just everything you're doing year in year out 697 00:50:42,240 --> 00:50:49,119 is becoming more expensive is we call it inflation the metric that we use for 698 00:50:46,960 --> 00:50:53,839 tracking inflation for our everyday lives is a consumer price index we call 699 00:50:50,960 --> 00:50:56,800 it the CPI and it's basically it's the average increase in cost of average 700 00:50:55,359 --> 00:51:01,440 household's goods and stuff that you and I buy every day for uh municipal 701 00:51:00,319 --> 00:51:05,920 governments. We use something called the municipal cost index and it tracks a 702 00:51:03,359 --> 00:51:10,880 different set of you know regularly used items that governments use. It's more 703 00:51:08,319 --> 00:51:15,040 things in the line of gravel and other you know materials for road improvements 704 00:51:13,359 --> 00:51:19,760 and you know parts that you will be using and fuel you'll be using for your 705 00:51:18,000 --> 00:51:23,440 various operations like your electric utility, your water and sewer utilities. 706 00:51:21,680 --> 00:51:28,880 That's the kind of those are the kinds of things that it's tracking. Uh you 707 00:51:25,839 --> 00:51:32,160 know, a pretty good calcul a pretty good estimate for what you're going to need 708 00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:35,520 to spend next year for especially when it came to materials was always going to 709 00:51:33,760 --> 00:51:38,319 be well it's going to be about 3% because that's what the municipal cost 710 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:41,760 index told us it was going to be. That's the amount that inflation is growing 711 00:51:39,920 --> 00:51:44,160 year to year is about 3% somewhere between two and a half to three 712 00:51:42,720 --> 00:51:49,280 depending on how the economy is doing whatever. Well, this year it's over 713 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:52,960 almost 6% through August, which means that if you are in an environment where 714 00:51:51,359 --> 00:51:56,800 you're going to see 6% growth in all your costs every year and the county is 715 00:51:54,480 --> 00:52:01,760 only going to let you levy an additional 3% a year for general fund operations. I 716 00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:05,359 mean, not over it's not all of your general fund operations. And you know, 717 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:09,520 if sales tax is continuing to, you know, grow, then great. But, you know, your 718 00:52:08,079 --> 00:52:12,240 mill levy essentially pays for your police department is basically what it 719 00:52:10,960 --> 00:52:17,760 pays for. If you wanted to split out what every cost within your general fund 720 00:52:14,400 --> 00:52:21,520 gets paid for the the mil what amount of uh property tax you get basically pays 721 00:52:19,359 --> 00:52:25,760 for PD that's essentially what it pays for. So you're going to see, you know, 722 00:52:24,319 --> 00:52:29,440 that's where you're going to feel the biggest pinch is those type of general 723 00:52:27,440 --> 00:52:32,400 fund operations are going to have to operate with less every year that 724 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:35,599 they're going to have to delay maintenance on vehicles and delay 725 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:39,599 purchasing new vehicles and delay maintenance on equipment and purchasing 726 00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:43,119 new equipment and other every everything else that they do that they regularly 727 00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:46,400 spend money on. So >> means lack of morale because you're not 728 00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:53,359 being able to compete with other police departments for pay and benefits, etc. 729 00:52:49,520 --> 00:52:53,359 So thank you. 730 00:53:04,400 --> 00:53:10,599 other questions, concerns, discussion. 731 00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:18,160 Being clear, we are not raising a mill. We are not raising a mill. Just so 732 00:53:15,839 --> 00:53:22,319 everyone's clear about that. We're not increasing a mill. 733 00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:26,119 We're taking what we have and trying to work with what we got 734 00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:39,362 anyone [sighs and gasps] 735 00:53:35,599 --> 00:53:41,440 this time. Now I might uh ask for a [sighs] 736 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:45,359 I'm going to introduce a resolution 202611 737 00:53:43,200 --> 00:53:49,440 which authorizes the city to approve the budget. Matter's been open for 738 00:53:47,119 --> 00:53:55,000 discussion. Is there a motion to approve resolution 2026-1 739 00:53:52,000 --> 00:53:55,000 11 740 00:53:58,640 --> 00:54:05,760 » with no mill increases >> with no mill increases. 741 00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:07,760 » It goes down a little bit. >> That's coming. 742 00:54:06,559 --> 00:54:11,680 » I'm sorry. Sir, >> could you could you please include the 743 00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:18,720 language in that motion to adopt a mill levy not to exceed 42.268 mills? 744 00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:20,640 » Yeah. Okay. And I'm sorry, sir. Read it to me again. 745 00:54:19,520 --> 00:54:25,119 » 40. >> Okay. Thank you. 746 00:54:21,359 --> 00:54:27,040 » Mill levy not to exceed 40 exceed 42.268 mills. 747 00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:35,000 » All right. That's to include that the mill levy not exceed 42.268 748 00:54:30,640 --> 00:54:35,000 mills. Yes. Correct. Thank you. 749 00:54:36,559 --> 00:54:42,559 » Yeah. I'll make that motion to not raise the 750 00:54:40,079 --> 00:54:46,319 millivy and adopt the budget. 751 00:54:44,079 --> 00:54:48,160 » And adopt the budget. Do I have a second? 752 00:54:47,119 --> 00:54:50,960 » Second it. >> All in favor say I. 753 00:54:49,599 --> 00:54:52,800 » I. It'll be roll call. >> Oh, roll call. 754 00:54:51,599 --> 00:54:57,599 » Yeah. I'm sorry. You're right. Thank you. I'm going to start with the right 755 00:54:54,559 --> 00:55:00,000 this time. Uh, Councilman King, >> yes. 756 00:54:58,720 --> 00:55:01,920 » Councilman WZ, >> yes. 757 00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:03,599 » Council Venimal, >> yes. 758 00:55:02,400 --> 00:55:07,040 » Council Lordson, >> yes. 759 00:55:04,079 --> 00:55:14,160 » Motion passed by roll call. The 2026 hyphen 11 2027 budgets adopted. 760 00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:17,040 Now we'll go on to an easier thing. That's a council appointment to 761 00:55:15,280 --> 00:55:20,400 interview board for open library position. 762 00:55:18,960 --> 00:55:24,000 Who wants to do that? >> So, just want to kind of give you an 763 00:55:21,920 --> 00:55:29,119 update. The uh one of the individuals that we appointed earlier uh this year 764 00:55:26,559 --> 00:55:35,760 has has resigned from from the library board. Um so, we need to interview again 765 00:55:33,040 --> 00:55:40,400 for to fill that position. So, we need one of the members um from the council 766 00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:43,400 uh to set on that interview um committee. 767 00:55:44,640 --> 00:55:51,119 volunteers. I did it last time [laughter] 768 00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:56,559 and I'll I'll be more than happy to do it again. I mean, it was it was it 769 00:55:53,760 --> 00:56:04,799 wasn't painful or anything. It was nice to hear their stories. So, if if no one 770 00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:07,040 wants to do it, I'll do it. I mean, so appreciate it. 771 00:56:06,079 --> 00:56:11,359 » Okay. >> Getting good at it. Well, Councilman 772 00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:13,920 King, I guess you're it. [laughter] Thank you for stepping up, sir. It's 773 00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:15,839 much appreciated. >> Thanks, Jay. 774 00:56:14,559 --> 00:56:19,280 » Thanks, J. >> Okay, now we're going to go to the 775 00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:24,480 council and committee reports, budget and finance. Scott, 776 00:56:21,520 --> 00:56:28,720 » uh, yeah, let me pull up. Let's see here. 777 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:34,880 So, we went through the July year-to- date financials with Baker Tilly. Um, 778 00:56:31,760 --> 00:56:40,960 just looked at, you know, utility wise, where we're at, get an idea of where we 779 00:56:38,559 --> 00:56:47,280 expect to end the year. in with the reserve and that's all based 780 00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:50,000 on how much of the utilities used etc. So it's it's definitely a rough 781 00:56:48,720 --> 00:56:55,119 estimate. So we kind of got a happy year's worth of view. Um you know and 782 00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:58,640 and just right now and we've talked about this before. I mean the electric 783 00:56:56,559 --> 00:57:03,920 fund looks like it's in good shape because of the changes we made 784 00:56:59,920 --> 00:57:09,040 previously. waters, you know, right projected again, it's half a year away 785 00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:15,200 projected to get real close to fund policy at reserve and then it's 786 00:57:11,359 --> 00:57:21,200 wastewater that's, you know, well behind um policy on the reserve. So, um, when 787 00:57:18,559 --> 00:57:24,880 we go [clears throat] through the, uh, when we go through the, um, budget for 788 00:57:23,599 --> 00:57:28,960 the utilities, we're going to have to look hard at rates to try to figure out 789 00:57:26,640 --> 00:57:33,920 where we want to get the reserve back, how quickly, 790 00:57:30,720 --> 00:57:37,599 you know, a three-year recovery, etc. would kind of drive a projected rate 791 00:57:35,839 --> 00:57:40,960 increase over three years as opposed to trying to get it all back in a year. So, 792 00:57:39,440 --> 00:57:44,880 those will be the conversations we'll have 793 00:57:42,559 --> 00:57:51,319 um, as we go forward. But that was the pretty much um took up the entire 794 00:57:48,319 --> 00:57:51,319 agenda. 795 00:57:52,319 --> 00:57:57,359 » Real quick on that cuz in sorry >> do we need to meet 796 00:57:55,520 --> 00:58:02,000 » Go ahead. >> We we I think the last when we were in 797 00:57:59,520 --> 00:58:05,599 that meeting we had talked about um if you guys had done a smoke test 798 00:58:04,240 --> 00:58:06,720 » Oh yes, you did bring that up. >> Yeah, 799 00:58:05,920 --> 00:58:11,280 » I think that was >> for the waste water. Yeah, I mean they 800 00:58:09,200 --> 00:58:16,480 they have and they've identified identified some some areas, but you 801 00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:20,799 know, at the end of the day, um you know, it comes back to having some 802 00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:23,839 capital capital to do these projects. >> Yeah, 803 00:58:21,520 --> 00:58:29,200 » it it's one thing we we're identifying places, but we still got to fix them. 804 00:58:25,599 --> 00:58:33,280 And you know, this past week, we did a repair inhouse for one of our major 805 00:58:31,359 --> 00:58:38,799 intersectors between Third and Fourth Street, between Chapel and Dearbornne. 806 00:58:35,760 --> 00:58:45,200 Um there's a huge project that we did actually in house where we only hired 807 00:58:40,720 --> 00:58:50,000 out a loader guy to to do the work. So um that you know that saved the the city 808 00:58:47,920 --> 00:58:53,359 a vast amount of money to do that. It took us a little bit longer than it 809 00:58:51,440 --> 00:58:58,640 would a normal crew hiring somebody out but um you know they did a great job. Um 810 00:58:56,319 --> 00:59:05,359 they got that area fixed. um with that intersector, you know, there's a a mass 811 00:59:00,720 --> 00:59:11,520 amount of flow from north of 56 and east of uh Sixth Street flows all through 812 00:59:08,079 --> 00:59:17,920 that that intersector. So on its way to the plant. So um it was it was in dire 813 00:59:15,119 --> 00:59:22,160 need that we had to had to address it. So 814 00:59:19,920 --> 00:59:24,720 » Okay. Thank you. You're going to have a meeting. You need one? 815 00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:29,440 » No. >> Okay. No meeting. Okay. Thank you. Let 816 00:59:26,799 --> 00:59:35,119 me The next reg regularly scheduled one would be two weeks from this Friday. 817 00:59:34,000 --> 00:59:37,280 » It would be the 11th. >> It would be 818 00:59:36,319 --> 00:59:42,240 » no 18th. >> Be the 819 00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:48,559 be the 18th. Um I'm sorry. Yeah. Be 18th. Um at 9:00 820 00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:53,839 second floor city hall. >> Thank you. Community development Corey. 821 00:59:51,599 --> 00:59:57,200 » Uh we did meet um didn't have any real agenda items. just kind of had some 822 00:59:54,960 --> 01:00:05,520 general discussions about some of the uh possible upcoming projects. Um 823 01:00:01,040 --> 01:00:10,880 um prior prior business. Um we will be meeting the 824 01:00:08,319 --> 01:00:15,079 third Monday of this month which is 825 01:00:16,480 --> 01:00:24,480 uh the 21st. No, it's the 28th. 4:00 second floor 826 01:00:23,200 --> 01:00:28,799 city hall. That's the fourth Monday. 827 01:00:26,400 --> 01:00:34,079 » Uh, no, Monday was the 31st. >> No, but the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th. 828 01:00:31,760 --> 01:00:39,119 » One, two. Yeah. No, it's 21st. We used to meet. So, here's the deal. We used to 829 01:00:37,119 --> 01:00:43,440 meet on the fourth Monday and then there were a couple uh of the fourth Mondays 830 01:00:42,000 --> 01:00:48,880 that fell on some holiday type thing. And then when we kind of switched over 831 01:00:45,440 --> 01:00:53,200 the 21st so um or for the 3rd. So, I in my calendar it still says 28th, but 832 01:00:51,040 --> 01:00:58,799 there's another one for the 21st. So, we will stick with what we've been doing on 833 01:00:54,720 --> 01:01:03,440 the 21st, the 3rd Monday of September at 4:00. 834 01:01:00,720 --> 01:01:09,839 » Thank you. Public safety Jay, >> uh, we have not met and we are scheduled 835 01:01:06,079 --> 01:01:15,040 to meet September 24th at 9:00 in the second floor, city hall. Okay. 836 01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:17,920 » Did you get the email from the lady in regards to the animal control? 837 01:01:17,520 --> 01:01:21,119 » Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. 838 01:01:18,640 --> 01:01:23,359 » Yep. It'll be on our said be your guys' thing. will be what we talk. 839 01:01:22,720 --> 01:01:27,520 » Thank you, Jay. >> Things we talk about. 840 01:01:24,960 --> 01:01:32,079 » Uh, let's see. Do you want to mention anything about public works, Jay? Um, 841 01:01:29,760 --> 01:01:36,799 Julie, I can't remember. We haven't met since the last meeting. Okay. 842 01:01:33,520 --> 01:01:39,119 » So, and she hasn't text me. She always keeps me in line on that one when we're 843 01:01:38,400 --> 01:01:44,240 going. >> So, so that meeting is going to be um 844 01:01:41,760 --> 01:01:48,079 Thursday, September 10th at public works at 9:00 a.m. 845 01:01:45,280 --> 01:01:52,079 » Okay. Thank you. Jay, do you have anything 846 01:01:50,559 --> 01:01:55,200 else you want to add or N? >> Thanks. 847 01:01:53,119 --> 01:01:57,040 » Anything with strategic planning, Scott? >> Nope. 848 01:01:55,760 --> 01:02:00,559 » Okay. >> Jay, anything on the lake? 849 01:01:58,319 --> 01:02:07,599 » Uh, the lake committee will meet on September 15th at 6:00 in the executive 850 01:02:03,920 --> 01:02:14,319 room here uh before our scheduled city council meeting. So, got a lot of news 851 01:02:10,640 --> 01:02:21,280 to talk about and so it's actually good news. So, we'll keep hammering away and 852 01:02:18,240 --> 01:02:26,559 hopefully at the after we meet it on the 15th, um I believe the plan is for uh 853 01:02:24,640 --> 01:02:33,040 the count the late committee to maybe come that meeting and kind of give more 854 01:02:30,319 --> 01:02:35,119 details. So, >> good. Thank you, sir. 855 01:02:34,480 --> 01:02:40,079 » Mhm. >> City administrator, anything 856 01:02:38,480 --> 01:02:47,119 » legal? >> Nope. Nothing. to the clerk. 857 01:02:44,160 --> 01:02:51,520 Council mayor comments. Two quick things. Am Amra Packard's 858 01:02:49,920 --> 01:02:56,960 going to start joining us on the finance committee here in a couple weeks to sit 859 01:02:53,520 --> 01:03:01,200 in with us to kind of get an idea. My belief and the reason I'm doing that 860 01:02:59,040 --> 01:03:05,520 kind of gives a second in command kind of redundancy in case Russ was kidnapped 861 01:03:03,359 --> 01:03:09,599 by a flying saucer on the west side of town, never to be seen again. We can 862 01:03:07,760 --> 01:03:14,079 fall back on camera. She'll know what's going on. Uh, I just think it's it's 863 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:18,640 kind of good redundancy and leadership. Uh, then my only other closing comments 864 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:24,720 is real quickly, thanks to the fire department for last week and being 865 01:03:21,839 --> 01:03:33,799 during the third Friday and spraying the kids. That was a very nice 866 01:03:27,839 --> 01:03:33,799 communityoriented deal. I events 867 01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:43,039 like that. The kids were having a blast. Fire department was got their test their 868 01:03:41,520 --> 01:03:46,960 equipment out. It was good. Thank you, fire department. I appreciate it. And I 869 01:03:45,599 --> 01:03:51,359 want to thank each one of the council members tonight for their hard work on 870 01:03:48,720 --> 01:03:54,720 this budget. Again, I know it was tough. Uh setting up here is a lot different 871 01:03:53,200 --> 01:03:59,119 sometimes than sitting out there. And I appreciate everyone's hard work and 872 01:03:56,640 --> 01:04:02,520 dedication. Thank you. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? 873 01:04:04,079 --> 01:04:11,280 » Our jourer is not here. [laughter] >> Our adjourer 874 01:04:08,960 --> 01:04:14,559 I move we adjourn. Second >> second. 875 01:04:11,920 --> 01:04:18,000 » I'm sorry. Sure. >> No. No question. Pencil. 876 01:04:16,480 --> 01:04:23,520 » No. >> Well, can you do it after the meeting? 877 01:04:21,039 --> 01:04:24,960 » Can you do it I mean after the meeting? Can we 878 01:04:24,000 --> 01:04:30,079 » probably want to hear it? >> What's that? 879 01:04:26,880 --> 01:04:33,039 » Public comment time's over. Jerry, we're getting ready to adjourn the meeting. 880 01:04:31,440 --> 01:04:35,760 » I'm out of I'm out of the box, so I guess I can talk, right? 881 01:04:34,000 --> 01:04:41,039 » Second the motion. [laughter] >> All right. Meeting adjourned. 882 01:04:39,760 --> 01:04:44,799 Man, >> we didn't technically adjourn.