1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:02,120 Spencer, [clears throat] you can come up 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:07,190 while we're waiting. 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:08,320 Okay. 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:09,920 We'll go to public hearing item number 5 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,600 one, uh public hearing related actions. 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,400 The council will accept public comment 7 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:16,920 and may approve the following items. 8 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:18,440 Item number one, public hearing on the 9 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:20,160 proposed tax increase for the city of 10 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,920 Saratoga Springs. 11 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,040 I have to read this first. 12 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:25,400 Uh the city of Saratoga Springs is 13 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,160 proposing a 50.03 property tax increase 14 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,520 for an additional [clears throat] 3.1 15 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:31,440 million 16 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:32,880 in revenue that will be generated each 17 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:33,840 year 18 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:35,120 by the proposed increase in the 19 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,960 certified tax rate to point 001467 20 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:41,640 for the purpose of funding public safety 21 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,120 with the intended use of additional fire 22 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,240 and police services. Spencer. 23 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,350 >> All right. Good evening, um 24 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:51,920 Evening, Mayor and Council. If it makes 25 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,320 you guys feel better, um last time we 26 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:54,720 did truth in taxation for the city here, 27 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,000 I was in high school. Um 28 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,120 so, it's been a while. 29 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:00,760 Um as the Mayor 30 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,680 um stated, this is a proposed property 31 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,080 tax increase as part of fiscal year 32 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,760 2026-2027. 33 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,480 Um it is um 34 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,560 the city is asking for 3.1 million in 35 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:12,720 additional property tax revenue. So, 36 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,840 it's approximately a 50% increase. Um it 37 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:17,520 would So, right now, without the 38 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,400 property tax increase, our property tax 39 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,360 rate would be point 000978. 40 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,640 Um and with the increase, it proposed 41 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,760 increase would be point 001467. 42 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:33,030 Um any questions for staff at this time? 43 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:34,080 » No. 44 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:35,880 >> I 45 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,680 Can I say one thing, Chris? 46 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:38,120 >> What? 47 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,040 >> Spencer, can can I say one thing? 48 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:41,280 >> Yeah, go ahead. 49 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,160 >> Can you translate that? I mean, we're 50 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,040 all talking about the 50% but can we ask 51 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,480 on the median income, like on a 500,000, 52 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:49,520 what does that mean? 53 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,080 >> So, as part of the um 54 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:53,360 presentation that we have to do, the 55 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,360 property tax impact schedule, 56 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,840 um the state requires us to do it on a I 57 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,000 believe it was a median median average 58 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,520 home, which is 541,873,000 59 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,520 City of Saratoga Springs. Um, that would 60 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,160 be an approximately $145 61 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:10,880 increase per year. 62 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,720 Um, so versus what you're already over 63 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,080 you're already paying for the city. 64 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:16,600 >> Okay, thank you. 65 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,120 >> Yeah, thanks Spencer. 66 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,360 We'll move to the public hearing. 67 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:22,920 So, 68 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:24,959 I'm going to open the public hearing for 69 00:02:24,959 --> 00:02:27,040 public hearing item one. Please be 70 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:28,360 respectful in your comments. Please 71 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,600 limit your comments to 3 minutes. Time 72 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:31,959 may not be given to another commenter. 73 00:02:31,959 --> 00:02:34,040 Please avoid repetitive comments. 74 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,959 Uh, we do have currently 11 people 75 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:38,240 signed up in the room for public 76 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,000 comment. I will go down the list. We 77 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,000 also have 78 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,640 uh, submitted public comments that we 79 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:46,640 will read and then we potentially will 80 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:48,040 have online public comments. We will 81 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,240 start with the in-room comments. We're 82 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,320 going to start with Julie King. 83 00:02:53,320 --> 00:03:00,117 You have 3 minutes. 84 00:03:00,127 --> 00:03:02,750 » [clears throat] 85 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,710 » It just please push the button. 86 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,160 » My name is Julie King and I've been a 87 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,959 resident of Saratoga Springs for 21 88 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:11,959 years. 89 00:03:11,959 --> 00:03:13,600 We were here when Governor Herbert cut 90 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,720 the ribbon on Pioneer Crossing. My 91 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,080 children have attended five schools in 92 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,320 Saratoga Springs and one school in Lehi. 93 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:20,720 We have lived through a tremendous 94 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:22,800 amount of growth and we have a pretty 95 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,640 good idea of what is coming. 96 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:26,400 I also have a unique perspective because 97 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,560 I'm an elected official. I have been in 98 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,360 the seats you are sitting in now and 99 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:31,959 I've gone through the truth and taxation 100 00:03:31,959 --> 00:03:34,440 process multiple times. I know what 101 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,480 happens behind the scenes. I know the 102 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,200 hundreds of hours spent pouring over 103 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,239 budgets, looking for efficiencies, 104 00:03:40,239 --> 00:03:41,920 trying to find resources with limited 105 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,040 dollars, and making difficult decisions 106 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,640 about what can and cannot be funded. 107 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,160 I also understand the responsibility of 108 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,880 taking care of employees and making sure 109 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,080 they they fairly compensated while being 110 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,480 mindful of the impact on families and 111 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,457 their household budgets. 112 00:03:56,457 --> 00:03:56,720 >> [clears throat] 113 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:58,480 >> A few weeks ago, I stood outside 114 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,120 watching a wildfire creep closer and 115 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,440 closer to our brand new high school. I 116 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,160 saw firefighters save homes and save our 117 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,360 high school. 118 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,120 Our firefighters and those who provided 119 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,360 mutual aid from other municipalities not 120 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,040 only saved the school, they saved our 121 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,680 district money in costs and delays in 122 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,440 that school opening. 123 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,600 Thank you. 124 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,600 Um I also have another perspective that 125 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,560 I think is important. I am now working 126 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,200 in the very city office building that 127 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,800 the city has made work for many years. 128 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,160 I have seen how that space has been 129 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,640 repurposed, rearranged, and reconsidered 130 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,919 again and again to make it work. And I 131 00:04:34,919 --> 00:04:36,560 think that is a pretty good metaphor for 132 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,200 Saratoga Springs. We make it work. We 133 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:40,560 make do. 134 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:41,840 We stretch what we have just a little 135 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:44,040 bit farther. And for a long time, that's 136 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,760 been the right thing to do. But I think 137 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:46,880 we've reached a point where we need to 138 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,360 be honest about the scale of what is 139 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:49,480 coming. 140 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:50,600 The Lake Mountain School District has 141 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,600 completed a 15-year capital plan based 142 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,480 on the growth we anticipate in Saratoga 143 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,080 Springs and Eagle Mountain. We're 144 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,919 estimating that we will need to build 17 145 00:04:57,919 --> 00:05:00,080 schools in 15 years. 146 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,280 To say it again, 17 schools in 15 years. 147 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:04,560 That growth does not just affect the 148 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,360 school district, it also affects the 149 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:07,360 city. 150 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:08,520 When we open our new high school in 151 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,280 2028, we're going to ask the city to 152 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:12,280 provide a school resource officer. And 153 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:13,640 that will be true for every secondary 154 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,000 school, every middle school, and every 155 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,960 high school we open. When we build 156 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:18,320 elementary schools, the city will be 157 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,520 asked to provide crossing guards. More 158 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,000 schools means more roads, more traffic, 159 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,120 more public safety needs, more parks, 160 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,240 more infrastructure, and more demand for 161 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:28,560 the services that only the city 162 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:29,840 provides. 163 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:32,120 We are one community. The decisions we 164 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,720 make in one level of government have 165 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,000 consequences for the others. I know this 166 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:37,480 council's focused on being careful 167 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,720 stewards of taxpayer dollars, but I also 168 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,360 think we have to recognize that a 2008 169 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,800 dollar is not the same as a 2026 dollar. 170 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,520 At some point, that making do becomes 171 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,120 falling behind. 172 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:51,720 At some point, stretching what we have 173 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,360 becomes asking our employees to do more 174 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,160 with less, delaying necessary 175 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:57,800 investments, or shifting costs into the 176 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:58,880 future. 177 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,560 We have made it work. We have made do. 178 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:02,960 I believe we need to make thoughtful 179 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:04,400 investments today so that we aren't 180 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,280 paying a much higher price for deferred 181 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:09,080 decisions tomorrow. As a resident and a 182 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,120 tax-paying individual, I want you to 183 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:12,320 know that I support the proposed 184 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,560 certified tax rate. Thank you. 185 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:16,920 >> Thank you. I just want to verify with 186 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:17,960 staff that 187 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:19,760 we're running the clock. 188 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:21,000 Correct. Okay. 189 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,600 All right. Next we have Daniel Dunham. I 190 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:30,270 will try and get everybody's name right. 191 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:31,400 And Daniel, do you have the Do you have 192 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:32,240 the packet? 193 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:32,600 >> Yep. 194 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,320 >> Okay. 195 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:35,360 >> And I actually want to refer to that 196 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,200 packet a few times. 197 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,720 Um you'll find that there are a few 198 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,880 things that are highlighted in here. 199 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,600 Um 200 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,960 you you say this tax increase is about 201 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:46,400 uh public safety? 202 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:47,880 No. 203 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,640 It isn't. 204 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,880 If you really cared about public safety, 205 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,400 you get rid of him. 206 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,000 You get rid of his department. 207 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,550 So, you look on page three. 208 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,360 You'll see that uh use of deadly force. 209 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:04,760 There have been five instances in the 210 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:06,720 period where his department has been 211 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,040 responsible for the death of five 212 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,760 different individuals. 213 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,080 You look on page five. 214 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:14,800 During the same time period, there have 215 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,919 been no reported homicides in the city 216 00:07:16,919 --> 00:07:18,600 of Saratoga Springs. 217 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,640 The only deaths involving police are 218 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,430 those caused by the police. 219 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:31,870 When 220 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:33,880 Trying to catch my notes. 221 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,240 There is a another reference in here. 222 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,640 Um again with the deadly force. 223 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,520 Most killings by police per arrest than 224 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:46,040 95% of all departments that are in here. 225 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,240 When you look on 226 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:51,840 page six, 227 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:52,640 there's a list of the police 228 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,160 departments. 229 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,760 This is the seventh worst police 230 00:07:55,760 --> 00:08:00,470 department in the state out of 116. 231 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,840 It is also, when you look at the second 232 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:04,360 page, 233 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:05,680 and [clears throat] you look at police 234 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:06,960 funding, 235 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,600 it is higher than 90% of the police 236 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,640 departments of a similar supplies sized 237 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,000 city. 238 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,560 They're overfunded. 239 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:17,760 Their police 240 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,720 violence is at 16%, which is 241 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,680 significant. They are very violent 242 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,760 individuals, or at least a very violent 243 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,680 department. 244 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,840 There was a report of a guy who their 245 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,320 kids phone 246 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,039 was faulty. 247 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,159 They sent six cars and a canine unit and 248 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:39,000 threatened the homeowner. 249 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,680 For a faulty phone. 250 00:08:41,680 --> 00:08:44,240 Why do they have six cars to send? 251 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,200 And this isn't one thing. 252 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:48,520 This happens. 253 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:49,520 When there's been police accidents, 254 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,040 there's usually four or five cars 255 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,440 sitting there. 256 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:54,920 It it's 257 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:56,440 they have too much. And then there's 258 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,360 their unmarked cars. 259 00:08:58,360 --> 00:08:59,320 Talking with somebody who was in the 260 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,520 industry, who was involved in in 261 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,360 unmarked cars, Cedar Douglas Springs has 262 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,190 the most of anybody in the state. 263 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:08,560 So, 264 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:10,240 these guys have a lot of money, they 265 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,160 have a lot of equipment, and a lot of 266 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,150 spare time. 267 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,360 It's a waste. 268 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:18,520 So, 269 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,800 rather than provide six more officers, 270 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,040 cut 12. 271 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:31,670 Start with him. 272 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:41,070 » Thank you. We'll go to Cecil Turley. 273 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:41,800 » You good? 274 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,080 >> I did the same thing. 275 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,920 >> Okay. 276 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,510 >> Not bad. 277 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,280 » Then we'll go to uh Morgan 278 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,720 Humphries. I hope I got that right. 279 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,360 Morgan, my good? 280 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:54,720 >> Yep. 281 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:55,760 >> Okay. 282 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,430 Thank you. 283 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,880 » So, I'm here because of the tax 284 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,200 increase, 50%. We're one of the highest 285 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,280 in the state. I understand the need. I 286 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,320 think it's excessive. 287 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,200 First off, what are we doing with our 288 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,720 tax money? 289 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,240 Are we being good stewards, or are we 290 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,000 not? 291 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,600 The only thing I can do is go off of 292 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,400 what I know. I'm an engineer. I look I'm 293 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:21,880 not trying to be 294 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,080 picky on the engineering department, but 295 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,720 I went through their stuff and and 296 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,840 just pure math, the average 297 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:34,480 cost of each employee is 190 grand. 298 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,880 The most that a city engineer can make 299 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,320 per year, guys, is documentation, 300 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:45,350 is 156 grand or 153. 301 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:46,760 If everybody makes what the city 302 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,440 engineer makes, we have over 20% of the 303 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,040 budget going to incidentals. 304 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,240 And that is low. I will tell you right 305 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,040 now it's probably more around 40. 306 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:58,000 Okay? 307 00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,839 To me that that's just one area where I 308 00:10:59,839 --> 00:11:01,720 look at and I go 309 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,880 I understand that you have to add 310 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:05,880 benefits in. I understand that there's 311 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,920 other things to be added. 312 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:09,400 If I can find it in one department, I 313 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,390 can find it in all. 314 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,360 I will say that I also am not very happy 315 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:17,440 about 316 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,000 the non-marked cars. 317 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,400 I feel like we are over-policing in this 318 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,520 area 319 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,240 in the sense of traffic control. Traffic 320 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,240 control and accidents are based off 321 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,120 conflict points. 322 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,000 happen at intersections. 323 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,560 are where accidents occur. 324 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:37,160 That is where the damage, that's where 325 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:38,840 the public safety, that's where the risk 326 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,640 is. It's not going down the street going 327 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,800 20 miles an hour over. 328 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,320 I know that we want to see and think 329 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:45,800 that, but that doesn't usually cause 330 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,560 accidents unless that person is weaving 331 00:11:47,560 --> 00:11:49,640 in and out of other people. 332 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,640 But that's where we go get almost all of 333 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,920 our tickets. 334 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,240 That I think is wrong. If it's a public 335 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,760 safety issue, 336 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,680 go to the intersections. Don't go 337 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:02,720 to the straightaways. That's not going 338 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,480 to If somebody's speeding there, that's 339 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,360 not going to cause it. 340 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,080 Okay? 341 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,320 Third point, what is animal control 342 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,350 doing in this city? 343 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:14,640 What do they do? 344 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,640 They go get dogs and then they charge 345 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,800 you to get them back. Okay? 346 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,080 It's starting to feel like a 347 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:22,760 an ongoing thing. 348 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,440 Okay? The police like to police where 349 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,240 people can't see their cars and they get 350 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,280 revenue. 351 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,640 Animal control goes and gets revenue 352 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,880 from dogs. We ask to come get cats, they 353 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:35,920 go go trap them first. 354 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,240 A cat. 355 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,200 I'm not talking about a cougar and I'm 356 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:42,680 not talking about a bobcat. I'm talking 357 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:45,360 about a feline housecat 358 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,280 that people can't come get, animal 359 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:48,480 control? 360 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:53,240 No, that's not my job. That is utter BS. 361 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,800 And that is my That's I'll stop because 362 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,400 my time's up, but that is it's it's 363 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,120 ridiculous. 364 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,280 And that is one of the points that I 365 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,720 will make is animal control should be 366 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,360 gone unless they start doing their job. 367 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,680 And that is we live in a 368 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:13,000 area of wilderness. You as animal 369 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,680 control need to come take care of 370 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:20,350 wilderness 371 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:31,790 » Thank you. We'll go to Brian King. 372 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,720 » Uh good evening. I'm Brian King. I've 373 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,280 lived here for about 21 years and uh 374 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,680 live up in Harvest Hills. I am speaking 375 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:40,800 tonight in favor of the proposed tax 376 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:41,920 increase. 377 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,120 Um I looked down the list of things that 378 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:45,560 are uh 379 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:47,640 that we need and will pay for with this 380 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:48,760 and I think those are all things that I 381 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,880 want. I want to know that we have safety 382 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,280 officers out there citing individuals 383 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:55,920 who are cutting roundabouts or driving 384 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:56,840 erratically. 385 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,040 >> would be for funding um additional fire 386 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:00,640 and police services. I was not aware 387 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,280 that nearly 2 million of it would be 388 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,640 going to other things. Um one of them 389 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,280 being parks, which I mean, considering the wrap tax, I will 390 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,760 admit right now that I do not know much 391 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,280 about the city budget and so that is on 392 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,160 me to learn more. Um but I am curious to 393 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,760 know if any lower priority spending has 394 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,560 already been cut or deferred. But I just 395 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,920 have to say I'm truly grateful for our 396 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:25,680 for law enforcement and firefighters. 397 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:27,200 Having had the opportunity to be a 398 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,640 firefighter for the for a day, um they 399 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,400 have done an outstanding job. I'm just 400 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:33,720 really grateful for them. Thank you for 401 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:37,710 your service and your time. 402 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,560 » Thank you, Leah. We'll go to Jennifer 403 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:51,110 Scranton. 404 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,480 » Good evening. My name is Jennifer 405 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,080 Scranton. I'm a Saratoga Springs uh 406 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:56,480 homeowner. 407 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:58,480 I do appreciate the importance of 408 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,160 police, fire, and EMS. I really thank 409 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:02,480 you. Uh 410 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,320 and I understand that our city has grown 411 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:05,839 tremendously 412 00:15:05,839 --> 00:15:07,400 and that the cost of providing these 413 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,480 services has increased. 414 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,160 However, um I am concerned about the 3.1 415 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,640 million property tax increase and I have 416 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,560 a few questions. 417 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,880 Saratoga Springs has grown approximately 418 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,040 16,000 res- or 419 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,360 has grown from approximately 16,000 420 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:27,680 residents in 2008 to more than 72,000 421 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:28,800 today. 422 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,200 And I'd like the city to explain how 423 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,200 much additional revenue that growth has 424 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,440 generated and why the revenues 425 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,560 associated with that growth are not 426 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,600 sufficient to cover the cost created by 427 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,960 the growth of today. 428 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,400 My second question is why does 429 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:54,750 >> Clarissa Cooper 430 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,840 » Hi. I will speak quickly and plainly. Uh 431 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,720 I wanted to say that I am super happy to 432 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,400 pay more taxes, especially when they 433 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,400 support the library and my house not 434 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:04,800 burning down. 435 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,480 Big fan of my house not burning down. 436 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,360 Big fan of the library. 437 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,520 Uh I run things with the Friends of the 438 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,240 Library and frequently before I would 439 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:13,280 talk to people and they'd say, "Oh, I 440 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,320 didn't know we had a library." 441 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,360 And everyone I talk to now loves the new 442 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:18,600 space. 443 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,760 And it's amazing. 444 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,480 And it's a lifeline to moms in the 445 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,360 community with story time. 446 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,320 But like that fills up and it's not 447 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,800 because the room is full. It's because 448 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:30,320 they don't have the staffing to be able 449 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,000 to supervise more kids in there. 450 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,040 So, I am really excited about the idea 451 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,040 of there being more employees for the 452 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,800 library with the tax increase. 453 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,000 And so, I just wanted to say thank you 454 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,480 for doing the brave thing and 455 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,839 asking the people of Utah to pay $150 a 456 00:16:47,839 --> 00:16:48,960 year 457 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,960 for just amazing benefits. My husband, 458 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,760 when I was telling him about 459 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,160 uh the benefits for the library thought 460 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,040 that that tax increase was exclusively 461 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:59,320 paying for the library because of how 462 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,280 much value we feel like we'd be getting 463 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:02,880 there. So, 464 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,000 thank you. I appreciate it. 465 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:17,429 >> Thank you. You had Karen Crouch. 466 00:17:17,439 --> 00:17:18,600 » Good evening. 467 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:19,920 I wasn't sure I was going to speak 468 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,959 tonight and one of the speakers already 469 00:17:21,959 --> 00:17:24,480 kind of hit on a lot of the topics that 470 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,400 I wanted to talk about. Just have we 471 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,000 really researched and cut waste where we 472 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,720 could? Because while $150 473 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,240 based on your average 474 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:38,840 house 475 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,760 isn't a lot, it assumes that year after 476 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,560 year that nothing else will raise. But 477 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:47,640 income will raise because we're we have 478 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,360 more and more residents. So, I think we 479 00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:54,480 are spending wisely on the police and 480 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,560 libraries and all of that, but I'm just 481 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,880 wondering if we have cut other areas. 482 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:03,320 Uh one thing that I noticed as as 483 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,680 someone that goes to Patriot Park a lot, 484 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,160 we're watering cement. So, we're not 485 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,960 fixing those things and we're wasting 486 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,120 money. So, I really want to make sure 487 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:16,120 that we're not wasting money and that we 488 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:18,400 understand that there are some senior 489 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,480 citizens here, which I am one of, and 490 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,880 we're on fixed income, and a 50% tax 491 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,480 increase caught my eye. So, I would I do 492 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,760 want to feel that you've taken this 493 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,680 seriously and cut all the waste that you 494 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,720 can. Thank you. 495 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,310 >> Thank you, Sharon. 496 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,000 Okay, forgive me on the next last name. 497 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,920 I've got Steven 498 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:50,630 Witkovich? 499 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:51,760 » Hi. 500 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:53,760 Um a lot of my concerns have been 501 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,240 addressed by 502 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,360 previous people, but I um did want to 503 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,200 make a few comments. I moved into 504 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,000 Saratoga Springs in uh 2006, so I've 505 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,480 been here about 20 years. 506 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,320 Um 507 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:07,600 a couple things that I don't really 508 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,080 understand that would help me is 509 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:12,840 like they said the statistic 16,000 back 510 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,040 then, 70,000 now. So, from my 511 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:16,560 perspective, 512 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,040 the tax base, the residential tax base 513 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,120 has grown astronomically, and then we 514 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:22,640 put in 515 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,920 so many businesses over the last 20 516 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:29,040 years, and I can't understand why all 517 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,160 those residents, you know, paying into 518 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:32,720 the pool, plus all those businesses 519 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,600 paying into the pool, 520 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,800 can't cover our tax base. So, that's one 521 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:37,920 thing I 522 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,840 I'd like to um ask as a question. 523 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,520 The second thing is, I know we've been 524 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,160 criticized in the past for our police 525 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,000 budget being overinflated, and I feel 526 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,480 like it is overinflated, and I feel like 527 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,800 a million dollars for four new hires? 528 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,640 From my simple math, that's $250,000 per hire. 529 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,240 That's pretty good. My dad was a police 530 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,560 officer for 30 years. Never made 531 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,440 $250,000. 532 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,040 So, obviously, that budget, there's a 533 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,000 lot of other stuff in there besides four 534 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:08,160 hires. 535 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,440 But, I believe our police budget should 536 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,120 be reduced, not increased. 537 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:16,040 Same concern, 50% in 1 year. Could we do 538 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,240 15% over 3 years? 539 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,920 Final point, um when I moved here from 540 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,600 Sandy in 2006, 541 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,160 my property taxes immediately doubled, 542 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,040 and I was kind of in sticker shock. It's 543 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,520 like, "How can Sandy provide such 544 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,320 excellent services to their residents 545 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,520 for half the amount of half the property 546 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,760 tax in Saratoga Springs can?" Now, I've 547 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:40,520 been paying double for the last 20 years 548 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,200 cuz I got used to the the new tax 549 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,240 burden, but 550 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,680 it seems that as we approach the size of 551 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,640 Sandy, we should also be getting the 552 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:50,720 efficiencies of Sandy, and we don't seem 553 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,320 to be doing that. I don't know what 554 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,000 Sandy's current tax rates are, but 555 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,200 when we're fully built out, and we're 556 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,720 going to be a, you know, 100,000 or so, 557 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,640 right? We're going to be equivalent to 558 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,120 Sandy. 559 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:05,040 How is it that they can figure out how 560 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,120 to keep taxes low, and we can't? I don't 561 00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:08,480 believe that they're any smarter than we 562 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:09,400 are. 563 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:10,880 But they must be doing something right 564 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:12,360 that we're not doing and maybe we could 565 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:14,600 learn some lessons from them. 566 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:15,800 Um 567 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,160 and then finally uh and this was I 568 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,480 didn't know this until tonight reading 569 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:20,200 over the docs. I'm looking at our the 570 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,280 cities around us. 571 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,400 We're the highest tax increase city over 572 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,000 all the other cities. They're like 6, 8, 573 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,280 10% except for Eagle Mountain who's gone 574 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,440 nuts and they they decided to do a 200% 575 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,920 tax increase, but 576 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:34,880 it's like what are these other cities 577 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,880 doing that we can't figure out how to do 578 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,960 to keep their tax increases reasonable? 579 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,120 6, 8, 10% that's reasonable. Inflation, 580 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:44,040 right? We're covering inflation. 581 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:45,800 But 50%? 582 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,640 Something's going wrong here. It's it's 583 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,480 um 584 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:51,840 There there there's there's got to be 585 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,400 something that we can do better 586 00:21:54,400 --> 00:22:00,350 to be more efficient. Thank you. 587 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:14,670 » Thank you. We've got Lynn Archuleta. 588 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,680 » Hi. Um I was born and raised here in 589 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,080 Utah. Lived in Salt Lake most of my life 590 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,000 until 2020 I came here to Saratoga 591 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,160 Springs. 592 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,760 Um I worked for the state of Utah for 38 593 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,880 years ending um as a budget officer for 594 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:31,240 the Department of Veterans and Military 595 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,120 Affairs. So, I understand budgeting very 596 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,920 well. And um I I've I've been up to the 597 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,360 legislature and gone through that whole 598 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:41,920 budget process 599 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,680 uh for the 12 years that I worked for 600 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:46,640 the Department of Veterans Affairs and 601 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:47,800 um 602 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,920 I am also just retired 603 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:51,640 um 604 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:52,960 last year 605 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,840 and 50% really 606 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,680 screamed to me as well. I understand 607 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,360 and I expected have tax increases every 608 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:03,600 year and I get that. You know, I I 609 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,080 understand it's it's necessary, but 50% 610 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,360 is extreme, especially when I'm as I 611 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:12,720 would have always been a single 612 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:13,920 parent 613 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,960 and have struggled my whole life, and 614 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:18,960 I thought I could live off my 615 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,680 retirement, and I am struggling. I 616 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,080 had no idea how much taxes I they take 617 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,400 out retirement. Um it's just this is a 618 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,720 lot, and when I look at the numbers, um 619 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,360 like I just looked at what the budget 620 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:35,520 was for, um 621 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,360 the police 622 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:38,760 over a million dollars, like the man 623 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,510 just said. 624 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,520 I have I know that government on my 625 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:50,880 experience of 38 years of government is leaning towards top-heavy. 626 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:51,960 And 627 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,880 we can 628 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,840 I've gone through lots of budgets, you 629 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,040 know, cutting budgets where 630 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:00,200 at the state level, they're constantly 631 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,000 asking departments to cut budgets, cut 632 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,280 budgets. Where can you cut back? A lot 633 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:05,600 of the people already addressed what I 634 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,870 wanted to say here, but 635 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,880 you can cut. You just got to 636 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:16,280 dive in there and cut. When I see 637 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:17,920 to you know, the 638 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,720 I I know police are necessary, but when I 639 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:23,480 first moved here, we had a fire in my 640 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:24,520 house 641 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,480 literally was almost caught fire. I had 642 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,160 to go, and it it's scary. We we need to 643 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,360 fund the fire department. We need more 644 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:35,680 firefighters here. Um the growth, you 645 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,080 know, 646 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,680 the last gentleman that said there's so 647 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,840 much growth, you know, why isn't that 648 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,560 compensating? We there's got to be 649 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,640 something. We got to dig and find out 650 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,480 how to be more efficient, where we can 651 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:55,000 cut, and not be top-heavy anywhere. 652 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,560 That's a lot of money for four four 653 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,400 positions in that's a lot. It It seems 654 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,720 top-heavy to me. My department was 655 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,590 top-heavy. 656 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,720 I don't know. I I'm just really 657 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:12,200 concerned. I I I drive here and I live 658 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,200 at the end by the lake and for me to go 659 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,960 anywhere any day 660 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:19,640 Is that my time? Sorry. 661 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:20,160 >> Yeah, thank you. 662 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:24,990 >> Thank you. 663 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:26,360 » Okay. 664 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:28,440 Do we have more 665 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:33,590 signed up for in room? 666 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:34,960 Wendy, are there more signed up on the 667 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:40,790 sheet back there or 668 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,600 If we have another one, you want to just 669 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:50,350 come up and state your name. 670 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:52,200 For in room, if you want to if there's 671 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,240 more public comment, you can come up to 672 00:25:54,240 --> 00:26:08,470 the microphone, state your name. 673 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,440 » Um my name is Beth Allen and I'm a 674 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,760 resident here in Saratoga Springs and I 675 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,800 do um have similar questions as as other 676 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,240 people have asked is um why the growth 677 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,480 in businesses haven't compensated for 678 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:27,120 the tax need. And I'm wondering if some 679 00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:29,040 of the businesses have been given 680 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,000 incentives, like have they gotten tax 681 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,960 breaks and maybe 682 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,120 that might need to be explained or 683 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:35,760 something. And then 684 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,960 um I'm also just making a comment on the 685 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,080 library. Um 686 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:42,440 I love the library. I absolutely love 687 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:46,078 it. It's super hard to volunteer there. 688 00:26:46,078 --> 00:26:46,480 >> [clears throat] 689 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:47,120 >> Um 690 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:49,200 so if if there is a way to make 691 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,240 volunteering easier at the library, then 692 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:54,000 maybe we wouldn't have to hire other 693 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,720 people if it wasn't like a 6-month 694 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,960 process of background checks and just a 695 00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:01,280 volunteer. 696 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,280 Um if we weren't so picky on the 697 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,350 volunteers. 698 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:07,000 Thank you. 699 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,200 >> Thank you. 700 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,080 While we wait to see if there's more, 701 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,080 let's go to 702 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,120 some of the online's. 703 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,510 Nikki, we could do that. 704 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,080 Yeah, go ahead, Mark. 705 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:21,400 >> Sorry. 706 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:22,760 >> Do you Mark, did you have something? 707 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:23,760 >> Do you want her to read them? 708 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,200 >> Yes, yeah, I was going to have her read 709 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:26,760 the read the online comments. I believe 710 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,400 we had five submitted online. 711 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:30,720 And we're going to we're going to have 712 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,520 you read those with the same 3-minute 713 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:33,880 timer clock. 714 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,440 And if whatever doesn't get read in the 715 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,480 3 minutes will just be it's already 716 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,200 submitted into the record. 717 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,680 >> All right, we have Kevin Marsh. 718 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,400 He says, "I'm opposed to increasing 719 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,920 property tax rates by this much. I can't 720 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:49,480 speak for others, but I have been 721 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,720 observing that the last few years have 722 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:54,360 been death by 1,000 cuts. 723 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:56,240 Everything is getting more expensive, 724 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,320 every tax rate is going up, every 725 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,360 purchase we make just to survive has 726 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:03,080 gone up by dramatic amounts. While wages 727 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:05,000 have largely remained stagnant, I 728 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,080 understand the need for additional 729 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:08,560 revenue to counter some of the 730 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,080 shortfall, but this amount is too much 731 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:12,800 and will further strain the budgets of 732 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,760 those who can afford it the least. 733 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,680 Please consider an increase of 12 to 17% 734 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,230 instead of 50." 735 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:27,470 That's the end, Katie. 736 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,560 Uh Brandon Anderson 737 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:32,800 says, "I support this tax increase for 738 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,400 better emergency and public safety. I've 739 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,160 lived here long enough to watch Harvest 740 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,280 Hills go from the edge of a town to a 741 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,720 cut-through. Mount View corridor empties 742 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,520 into my neighborhood and more and more. 743 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,440 What comes down Harvest Hills Boulevard 744 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,480 is not resident traffic. Redwood Road is 745 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,600 worse. The city is the only group that 746 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,400 can solve this problem, and we need 747 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,880 better enforcement of traffic laws along 748 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,200 our roads. 749 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,000 With this tax, the city can hire 750 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:01,160 additional law enforcement officers so 751 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,680 we can better enforce the existing laws 752 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,840 by slowing down cut-through traffic on 753 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,280 our residential roads and along Redwood 754 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:09,280 Road. 755 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:10,880 It will make our roads safer for our 756 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:12,960 kids, and we desperately need them to be 757 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:20,790 safer. Please say yes. 758 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,200 Josh Kimball states, "I saw that 759 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,520 property taxes are proposed to raise by 760 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,360 around 50%, and I'm writing to give my 761 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,960 dissent to this decision. 762 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,240 With the rapid growth rapid growth in 763 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:34,560 the city 764 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:36,520 is experiencing in both new residential 765 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:38,960 construction and industrial business and 766 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,080 office space, I feel that the money 767 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:42,600 received through this growth should 768 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,400 bring in sufficient money instead of 769 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:46,480 burdening residents with yet another 770 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,640 increase to our lives where the cost of 771 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,560 living is already out of control 772 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:58,870 expensive. 773 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:00,560 Jordan Hyde 774 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,440 says, "Mayor and City Council, the 775 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:04,200 this comment is in support of the 776 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,560 proposed tax rate increase. 777 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:08,200 While paying higher taxes is 778 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,360 uncomfortable, the proposal is a 779 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:12,640 necessary and reasonable investment in 780 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:14,920 the continued success and well-being of 781 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:16,760 Saratoga Springs. 782 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,760 The purpose and justification for this 783 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,000 increase are clearly stated in the 784 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,680 proposal with spending specific to 785 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,280 services the entire city rely and 786 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:27,800 depends on. 787 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:29,440 It is hard to argue against the 788 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,720 necessity of well-funded police 789 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:33,040 officers, 790 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,280 firefighters, and emergency personnel 791 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,480 with appropriate and adequate training 792 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,200 and equipment. As our city continues to 793 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,160 grow, this investment will be more 794 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,160 important. This proposal is fiscally 795 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,160 responsible and justified. I put my full 796 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:49,920 support behind this proposal and 797 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,320 encourage the City Council to approve 798 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,080 the proposed property tax increase. This 799 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,360 proposal is fiscally responsible and 800 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:58,760 justified. 801 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:00,280 I put my full support behind this 802 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,200 proposal and encourage the City Council 803 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,040 to approve the proposed property tax 804 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:13,270 increase. That was in there twice. 805 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,360 Clarissa Bascom 806 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,480 um wrote to the public comment regarding 807 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,080 the proposed tax increase uh with 808 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,320 questions. Dear Mayor, City Council 809 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,600 members, and fellow residents, 810 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,320 like many residents, I am trying to 811 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,320 understand the need for a proposed 812 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,200 property tax increase that has been 813 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:33,480 described as the first city tax increase 814 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,480 since 2008. 815 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,560 As a homeowner, a taxpayer, and someone 816 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:40,080 who cares deeply about our community, I 817 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:41,400 believe it is important that this 818 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,080 decision be based on a complete 819 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,080 understanding of the city's financial 820 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,680 history and not solely on the statement 821 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:49,600 that taxes have not been increased for 822 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,040 many years. 823 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,360 A 50% increase in the city's property 824 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,160 tax is significant for many families. 825 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,720 Because this decision rests with the 826 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:00,240 City Council, I respectfully ask that 827 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,000 residents be provided with additional 828 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,600 information so we can better understand 829 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,440 why this increase is necessary and 830 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,400 whether all reasonable alternatives have 831 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,040 been considered. 832 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:12,000 I respectfully request clarification on 833 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,720 the following questions. 834 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,560 It is accurate that while the city has 835 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:17,680 not adopted a truth in taxation property 836 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,240 tax increase since 2008, 837 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,000 the city's property tax revenue has 838 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,760 nevertheless increased substantially 839 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,680 through the construction of thousands of 840 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,280 new homes and commercial properties? 841 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,680 As Saratoga Springs has an experienced 842 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,000 tremendous growth, has the city also 843 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,000 received increased recurring revenue 844 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,680 from other sources including sales tax, 845 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:41,360 building permit fees, impact fees, 846 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:43,600 state shared revenue, franchise fees, 847 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,560 and other growth-related revenues? If 848 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:47,720 so, how have those revenues changed over 849 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:48,800 time? 850 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,800 Is it correct that Utah County collects 851 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:52,920 property taxes on behalf of Saratoga 852 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:55,240 Springs and distributes the city's share 853 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,000 back to the city? 854 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:58,840 How has the city's overall revenue 855 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,640 changed since 2008, and how has that 856 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,240 additional revenue been allocated? 857 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,480 Specifically, how much annual revenue 858 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:08,320 has been generated by new residential 859 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:09,880 construction? 860 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:11,320 How much annual revenue has been 861 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:13,840 generated by commercial developers? 862 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,040 How much has total city property tax 863 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,840 revenue increased since 2008? 864 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:20,480 Which departments have experienced the 865 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,120 greatest increases in spending? How much 866 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,040 of the proposed increase is intended to 867 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:27,240 maintain existing services versus 868 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:29,280 expanding services? 869 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,080 As the city's budget has grown, have 870 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:34,000 city services grown proportionally? 871 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,040 For example, if the city's property tax 872 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,720 revenue has increased significantly over 873 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,800 the past 18 years, 874 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:42,880 have residents seen comparable increases 875 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,440 in roads, public safety, parks, 876 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:48,200 staffing, and other essential services? 877 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,200 A comparison of budget growth alongside 878 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,000 measurable service improvements would 879 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,120 help residents better understand the 880 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,520 need for additional taxation. 881 00:33:56,520 --> 00:33:58,160 What portion of growth-related 882 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:00,520 infrastructure has been funded 883 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,360 through developer impact fees rather 884 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,000 than property taxes? Have those impact 885 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,120 fees kept pace with the costs created by 886 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:08,840 new development? 887 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:10,720 Many residents have expressed concerns 888 00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:12,879 about continued rapid growth. If 889 00:34:12,879 --> 00:34:14,600 additional property tax revenue is 890 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,480 approved to address growth-related 891 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,000 needs, what is the city's long-term plan 892 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:25,350 to manage them? 893 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,399 And have we received any more? 894 00:34:27,399 --> 00:34:28,560 >> We have not. 895 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,720 >> Um is 896 00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:31,399 uh 897 00:34:31,399 --> 00:34:32,960 Derek Andrews online? 898 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:35,800 >> Um, he is not online, but there are two 899 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,120 people online. Um, one just has a phone 900 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:39,919 number and one I do have a name. 901 00:34:39,919 --> 00:34:41,800 >> Do you want me to do Do you want to do 902 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:43,399 those first and then we'll wait if Derek 903 00:34:43,399 --> 00:34:44,679 doesn't show up, we can read his? 904 00:34:44,679 --> 00:34:45,120 >> That's great. 905 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,240 >> Yes. Um, for sure. 906 00:34:47,240 --> 00:34:49,440 So, I am going to promote Tammy 907 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:53,399 Christopherson to a panelist so that she 908 00:34:53,399 --> 00:34:56,320 is able to share her thoughts with us. 909 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,640 Um, in doing that, I'm going to also, 910 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,760 um, move my computer to the front so 911 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,200 that the city council can see her face 912 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:08,600 if she wants you to. Um, because that 913 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,840 was something that, um, we were supposed 914 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,560 to ensure that residents had that 915 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:15,430 ability. 916 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:25,070 Tammy, it looks like you are muted. 917 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:26,960 Perfect. So, hold on just 1 second. I'm 918 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:28,560 going to turn up my sound and put a 919 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,680 microphone to my speaker so that you can 920 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,240 become part of the public record. Okay? 921 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:38,480 You can go ahead and start. 922 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,160 >> Okay, this was kind of a surprise. Um, 923 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:44,160 I a lot of this has been covered, um, 924 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,800 with what everyone said, so I just go 925 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:50,480 yes cuz I'm not for 926 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:52,040 it 927 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:55,720 Sorry. For us who are retired, I figured 928 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:59,520 that this increase it will it is 20% of 929 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,400 income that I get from social security 930 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:05,440 and what little I've saved. 20%. 931 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:08,440 And when it said in 2008, they haven't 932 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,200 had any increase, but 933 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:11,360 my 934 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,080 property taxes have gone up 5% every 935 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,080 year. 936 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:19,760 But I'm also for if it's if it's 51%, 937 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,080 why can't we drag it out over time and 938 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:26,920 not just go wham 50%? That's just 939 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,720 It just I it just gets really scary that 940 00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:32,800 it we have these huge things and as a 941 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,120 senior I you sit there and think, "Okay, 942 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:37,720 where am I going to cut? Do I not take a 943 00:36:37,720 --> 00:36:39,480 medicine that I have I need to have 944 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:41,840 because that's cutting into what I have 945 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,720 budgeted for the month?" 946 00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:45,600 And um 947 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:47,880 and like the other people said that the 948 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:49,680 uh 949 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:52,000 where is the other income coming from 950 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:53,960 all these other people who have moved in 951 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:56,480 and businesses and people 952 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:58,720 and why is that not being compensated, 953 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:00,920 but I agree with a lot of what other 954 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:02,440 people have said. 955 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:06,230 Thank you. 956 00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:09,200 » Thank you. And then um we have another 957 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:10,560 attendee. 958 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:12,800 Um I they it looks like they joined from 959 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:14,400 like a phone and so we just have a phone 960 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,120 number. So, if they can share their name 961 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,880 um before they speak, I um 962 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:25,400 am see why are you not 963 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,600 Sorry. 964 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,000 Okay, it's not um I can allow them to 965 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,960 talk, but it's not allowing me to put 966 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:33,960 them on maybe cuz they don't have a 967 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,000 camera cuz they're on a phone. So, I'm 968 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,950 going to allow them to talk. 969 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:41,640 You can go ahead. It looks like you are 970 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:43,480 muted, so if you would like to speak. 971 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:44,520 >> Give their name. 972 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:45,600 >> I don't. 973 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:46,760 >> No, no, they need to give their name. 974 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:48,240 >> Yeah, please give your name. 975 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:48,800 >> now? 976 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,480 >> You You are. 977 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:53,840 >> Okay, perfect. Uh my name is Derek 978 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:55,640 Andrews. I've been a resident of 979 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:58,440 Saratoga Springs since 2013. 980 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:01,160 And I prepared some words in opposition 981 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,040 to the 50% tax increase. Uh good 982 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:05,600 evening, Mayor and council members. I'm 983 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:07,320 here tonight respectfully opposed to the 984 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:09,520 proposed property tax increase. I want 985 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,280 to be clear. I support responsible 986 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,320 funding for police, fire, roads, and the 987 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:14,920 essential services our growing city 988 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,400 needs. My concern is whether a 50% 989 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:19,640 increase in city property tax revenue is 990 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,320 necessary right now and whether the city 991 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,640 has adequately demonstrated that it is. 992 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,240 Saratoga Springs is growing rapidly. The 993 00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:29,640 city's own budget documents recognize 994 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:32,560 strong economic and residential growth. 995 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:34,440 Uh record sales tax revenues and 996 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:36,360 continued expansion of the tax base. The 997 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,280 city grew by roughly 8% in the most 998 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,200 recent year reflected in the budget and 999 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,600 substantial additional growth is 1000 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:43,880 projected. That growth should matter 1001 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:46,440 when we discuss taxation. Before asking 1002 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:48,280 existing homeowners to pay significantly 1003 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:49,840 more, I believe the city should 1004 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:51,560 demonstrate how much additional revenue 1005 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:53,160 it can reasonably expect from new 1006 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,440 construction, new businesses, population 1007 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:57,440 growth, sales taxes, and other existing 1008 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:58,840 revenue sources. 1009 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:00,640 Many homeowners are already struggling 1010 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:02,080 with the cost of living and today's 1011 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,120 housing prices. A home's increasing 1012 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,280 assessed value may represent wealth on 1013 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:07,720 paper, but it isn't cash in a 1014 00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:09,680 homeowner's bank account. Increasing the 1015 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:11,520 tax burden on people simply because 1016 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:13,360 their homes have become more valuable 1017 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:15,040 can put additional pressure on families 1018 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:16,680 who have never actually realized that 1019 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:18,160 increase in value. 1020 00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:19,360 There is another issue I believe 1021 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:21,360 deserves attention. Flock license plate 1022 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,320 reader cameras. The Fourth Amendment 1023 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:24,960 protects Americans from unreasonable 1024 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:27,120 searches and seizures and organizations 1025 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,000 such as the ACLU have raised serious 1026 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:30,800 concerns about automated license plate 1027 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:33,040 surveillance because it is actually 1028 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:35,240 surveillance. It is not just a reader. 1029 00:39:35,240 --> 00:39:37,160 It is meant to surveil and monitor 1030 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:39,960 citizens who have not committed a crime 1031 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:41,560 nor have reasonable articulable 1032 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:43,360 suspicion that they are about to commit 1033 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:44,360 a crime. 1034 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,840 This can put additional pressure Oh, 1035 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:48,520 excuse me. I mixed up cuz I needed to 1036 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:50,200 add more detail on that. So, this 1037 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:51,560 includes 1038 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:52,840 uh from this technology includes 1039 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:54,440 collection, retention, sharing, and 1040 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:56,680 accessibility of location data not only 1041 00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:58,160 within our own police department but 1042 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:00,400 sharing across multiple departments 1043 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:02,480 statewide and countrywide. I'm not 1044 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:03,760 suggesting that every use of this 1045 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:05,160 technology has been ruled 1046 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:06,960 unconstitutional. I am saying that 1047 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:09,120 residents deserve strong safeguards 1048 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:10,760 before government collects detailed 1049 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:12,920 information about where people travel. I 1050 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:15,000 am uncomfortable therefore asking 1051 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,880 taxpayers for more money while the city 1052 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:18,160 continues funding surveillance 1053 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,120 technology that raises legitimate 1054 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,600 constitutional and privacy concerns. I 1055 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:24,760 also believe the tax proposal needs to 1056 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:25,800 be res- 1057 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,240 represented more clearly. The city's own 1058 00:40:28,240 --> 00:40:30,040 property tax impact schedule shows a 1059 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:32,640 proposed 3.1 3.1 million dollar 1060 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:35,600 increase, but only 1.202 million or 1061 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:37,520 38.78% 1062 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:39,600 is identified for police and fire. 1063 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,760 Although the whole thing was presented 1064 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:44,360 as it's for public safety. 1065 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:46,600 That means more than 1.89 million or 1066 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,000 over 61% goes to other areas that are 1067 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:50,920 not public safety. They are not police 1068 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:53,280 and fire. Those expenditures may be 1069 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:54,640 worthwhile. 1070 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:55,160 >> Time. 1071 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:56,800 >> taxpayers deserve to see that 1072 00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:58,440 distinction clearly rather than hearing 1073 00:40:58,440 --> 00:41:02,750 the proposed 1074 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:06,150 » Thank you, Derek. 1075 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:07,720 Okay, I think we might have a few more 1076 00:41:07,720 --> 00:41:10,680 in the room who signed up. Um 1077 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:12,400 Beth Allen, I believe you already came 1078 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,760 up, correct? 1079 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:23,390 Okay. We've got uh Sammy Reyes. 1080 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:25,320 » Hello, my name is Sammy. I'm a homeowner 1081 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:27,280 in Saratoga Springs. We uh recently 1082 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:28,680 moved over here. 1083 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:32,960 Um I'm I'm not opposed to taxes. I understand 1084 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:35,280 that expenditure um 1085 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,600 is needed. I am opposed to the 50% tax 1086 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:38,640 increase. 1087 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:40,720 What we don't have is I think visibility 1088 00:41:40,720 --> 00:41:43,080 to where the money is. There are other 1089 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:43,960 um 1090 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,200 uh revenue sources, sales tax, building 1091 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,280 permit taxes, or uh uh fees, 1092 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:50,200 um 1093 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:52,520 revenue from traffic fines, 1094 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:53,960 um 1095 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:55,000 I think 1096 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:56,600 my concern, and I don't want to speak 1097 00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:58,120 for everybody else, but where's that 1098 00:41:58,120 --> 00:41:59,920 money coming from? How much is that 1099 00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:01,000 money? 1100 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,160 Um your your tax base has increased 1101 00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:05,840 tremendously. Um how much more money are 1102 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:08,680 you getting? And this is like the uh 1103 00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:10,600 I I don't know if there's there's no 1104 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:12,120 visibility, and I don't know where to 1105 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:14,520 get that. If you can provide that to us 1106 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:16,760 for us to understand how much money 1107 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,040 you're handling and how much money you 1108 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:21,880 still need. We also would like to 1109 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:23,320 somebody asked a very reasonable 1110 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:26,120 question is what other expenses did you 1111 00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:27,480 cut? Is there is there anything 1112 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:29,160 unnecessary or anything you can do less 1113 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:31,680 with that's been cut like for example 1114 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,600 watering concrete. 1115 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:37,160 It's a good point. Um 1116 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:38,880 The other concern which is a major 1117 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:41,920 concern is if this passes, when is your 1118 00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:44,560 next 50% tax increase going to happen to 1119 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:45,680 us? 1120 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:49,280 Is that when is enough? 1121 00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:51,960 Um I believe you as a body, you're 1122 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:54,120 trusted to take care of Saratoga 1123 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:55,600 Springs. 1124 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:56,640 Um 1125 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:59,600 and I think the standard is to minimize 1126 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:02,240 government, the size of government and 1127 00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:05,000 the impact of government while providing 1128 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:08,040 a good balance to people. Obviously, if 1129 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:09,920 we ask you to handle everything that we 1130 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:11,920 do, yeah, you're going to need all the 1131 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:13,440 money that you do. 1132 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:15,600 But we're asking you not to do that. 1133 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:17,640 We're just asking for visibility to 1134 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,400 where the money is, how much money there 1135 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:21,280 is and where it's going. 1136 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,470 Um 1137 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:26,160 Sir, you got a bad rap today. I don't 1138 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:27,640 know how true that is. 1139 00:43:27,640 --> 00:43:30,040 I'm sorry for that. I I do support uh 1140 00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:31,680 law enforcement everywhere. I don't 1141 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:33,400 think else is uh 1142 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:34,960 is a good idea. 1143 00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:36,560 Um 1144 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:38,800 and 1145 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:40,520 uh in conflict with many other people 1146 00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:42,840 who think that that money is too high. I 1147 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:44,840 believe when you consider the salary, 1148 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:47,360 the car, the unit, the weapons and the 1149 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:49,400 training, I think 1150 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:51,240 that might be we might be close to what 1151 00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:53,800 you're asking for. So, and again, I 1152 00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:56,440 think uh if there is police brutality, 1153 00:43:56,440 --> 00:43:58,440 um that's a training issue, not a budget 1154 00:43:58,440 --> 00:43:59,600 issue. 1155 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:01,080 So, thank you. 1156 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:03,280 >> Thank you. 1157 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:06,480 Do we have any more submitted online? 1158 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:10,190 Nicky or Anne? 1159 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:12,360 Are there any more on Zoom? 1160 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:13,640 Okay, let me check the room again. Is 1161 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:21,470 there any more in the room? 1162 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:23,160 Could you 1163 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:25,440 do one of these in the back, please? 1164 00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:25,960 Okay. 1165 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:26,760 >> Do you want to speak here or there 1166 00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:27,400 first? 1167 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:28,560 >> Go ahead. 1168 00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:29,600 Just give us your name. 1169 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:31,040 >> My name is Jaylin Lincoln and I've been 1170 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:32,640 a resident of Saratoga Springs since 1171 00:44:32,640 --> 00:44:34,240 1999. 1172 00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:36,000 And I want to thank this council and the 1173 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:38,000 councils that came before you of 1174 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,960 balancing the needs of services and the 1175 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:43,600 increases of taxes. It comes tonight to 1176 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:45,520 the age-old question, is it better to do 1177 00:44:45,520 --> 00:44:48,280 small increments or to go years without 1178 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:50,360 before we do a tax raise? 1179 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:51,880 It's really hard and I don't have an 1180 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:54,200 answer for you, but I do appreciate the 1181 00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:56,320 time and the effort to have many years 1182 00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:58,280 of no tax increases. 1183 00:44:58,280 --> 00:44:59,840 Um we used to joke that we couldn't come 1184 00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:02,360 out of Costco without spending $100. 1185 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:04,120 Unfortunately, the new joke at our house 1186 00:45:04,120 --> 00:45:05,560 is we can't go to Costco without 1187 00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:07,800 spending $250. 1188 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:10,280 As prices go up, the dollars that were 1189 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:12,240 with the original rate 1190 00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:13,960 in today's market, they just don't 1191 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:16,320 purchase as much as they used to and 1192 00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:18,480 it's a hard question to struggle with, 1193 00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:20,920 but I appreciate the balance that this 1194 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,120 city has taken between raising taxes 1195 00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:26,600 over the last many years um and and 1196 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:30,440 providing services and I I hope and wish 1197 00:45:30,440 --> 00:45:32,440 that there's some magic bullet on either 1198 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:34,720 small increments or larger increments. 1199 00:45:34,720 --> 00:45:36,440 One thing I thought might be helpful is 1200 00:45:36,440 --> 00:45:38,640 on your paper that was passed out to 1201 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:40,640 have the rates of the different cities, 1202 00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:41,920 what their current rate is and what 1203 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:43,960 their proposed rate is because then you 1204 00:45:43,960 --> 00:45:46,480 can see that oh, it's a 50% increase, 1205 00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:48,720 but our rate is still lower than a bunch 1206 00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:50,560 of the cities on the paper. You can 1207 00:45:50,560 --> 00:45:53,320 compare apples to apples a little better 1208 00:45:53,320 --> 00:45:55,080 um because the different cities all have 1209 00:45:55,080 --> 00:45:57,080 different philosophies, slow increments 1210 00:45:57,080 --> 00:45:59,480 or all at once. But again, I appreciate 1211 00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:01,720 the the effort that this council has 1212 00:46:01,720 --> 00:46:04,040 made to keep taxes as low as they can 1213 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:05,680 since we moved to Saratoga Springs in 1214 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:09,830 '99. Thank you. 1215 00:46:09,840 --> 00:46:11,160 » Joel, and please don't forget to put 1216 00:46:11,160 --> 00:46:13,200 your name on there. 1217 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:14,840 And are there any more on Zoom? 1218 00:46:14,840 --> 00:46:16,000 >> There are not. 1219 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:17,520 >> Nikki, is there any more emailed in? 1220 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:19,440 >> We don't. 1221 00:46:19,440 --> 00:46:21,440 We do not have any more emails or anyone 1222 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:22,160 else on Zoom. 1223 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:23,920 >> Okay. Is there anybody else in the room 1224 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:25,680 here that would like to participate in 1225 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:28,440 the public hearing? 1226 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:30,080 Okay. Seeing none, we'll close the 1227 00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:35,430 public hearing. 1228 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:38,600 And we'll go to 1229 00:46:38,600 --> 00:46:40,600 business item or public hearing item 1230 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:44,520 two, consideration of resolution R-2644 1231 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:46,080 adopting the certified tax rate for the 1232 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:47,480 general revenue fund for fiscal year 1233 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:50,040 2026-2027, Spencer. 1234 00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:51,920 And council will when after Spencer's 1235 00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:54,000 done, we'll have time to address 1236 00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:59,390 um comments. 1237 00:46:59,400 --> 00:47:01,000 Or ask questions for Spencer. 1238 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:02,960 >> Okay. 1239 00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:05,240 Um so, this resolution here is adopting 1240 00:47:05,240 --> 00:47:07,040 the property tax rate as part of the 1241 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:11,480 fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. Um 1242 00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:12,560 nothing's really changed since what we 1243 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:14,080 said earlier. Were there any questions 1244 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:22,950 for staff at this time? 1245 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:23,440 » No. 1246 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:24,480 >> I I have a question. 1247 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:25,520 >> Go ahead. Yeah, council. 1248 00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:26,007 >> Yeah. 1249 00:47:26,007 --> 00:47:27,000 >> [clears throat] 1250 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:28,960 >> Spencer, um 1251 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:32,320 I know that uh staff has put in 1252 00:47:32,320 --> 00:47:34,320 an untold number of hours 1253 00:47:34,320 --> 00:47:36,320 uh at the request of 1254 00:47:36,320 --> 00:47:39,640 city council to make sure that we were 1255 00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:41,880 uh using the dollars wisely. 1256 00:47:41,880 --> 00:47:43,037 Um 1257 00:47:43,037 --> 00:47:43,400 >> [clears throat] 1258 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:48,800 >> when um we look at the uh last time that 1259 00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:51,000 taxes were raised as an absolute dollar 1260 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:55,400 amount in in 2008, uh do you have any um 1261 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:57,880 idea in the back of your mind or or 1262 00:47:57,880 --> 00:47:58,960 handy, 1263 00:47:58,960 --> 00:48:02,720 what inflation has done to the cost of the city 1264 00:48:02,720 --> 00:48:04,760 and its operations? 1265 00:48:04,760 --> 00:48:06,440 >> Um, I don't have that handy right now, 1266 00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:08,800 the inflation since 2008. 1267 00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:10,320 Um, we could prepare that for you at a 1268 00:48:10,320 --> 00:48:12,560 different time if you want. 1269 00:48:12,560 --> 00:48:14,560 >> Well, um, 1270 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:16,520 I I I think it'd be safe to say that 1271 00:48:16,520 --> 00:48:18,840 inflation has had a devastating effect 1272 00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:21,600 on on the cost of operations in the city 1273 00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:24,040 over over time. Would that be a fair 1274 00:48:24,040 --> 00:48:24,840 statement? 1275 00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:27,200 >> Um, yeah, inflation has been a factor. 1276 00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:28,200 Um, we had that burst in the early 1277 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:30,120 2020s. Um, I know we had a lot of 1278 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:32,040 discussions during that time 1279 00:48:32,040 --> 00:48:34,480 as how to address that and keep um, 1280 00:48:34,480 --> 00:48:36,480 the city competitive with staffing and 1281 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:38,360 all that. So, yes, it's been a factor. 1282 00:48:38,360 --> 00:48:40,600 >> So, this has been a a struggle then as 1283 00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:42,520 long as you've been in the finance 1284 00:48:42,520 --> 00:48:45,000 department helping to to balance this 1285 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:48,120 budget with what the income is coming in 1286 00:48:48,120 --> 00:48:49,640 from not only existing home, but also 1287 00:48:49,640 --> 00:48:51,160 new construction. Would that be a fair 1288 00:48:51,160 --> 00:48:52,240 statement? 1289 00:48:52,240 --> 00:48:53,880 >> Um, yes, every year we have to go 1290 00:48:53,880 --> 00:48:55,320 through this discussion and it's always 1291 00:48:55,320 --> 00:48:56,800 a question of how we can balance the 1292 00:48:56,800 --> 00:48:58,960 budget and how we can address the city's 1293 00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:00,040 needs. 1294 00:49:00,040 --> 00:49:04,400 >> And what is what is the first concern in doing that when you 1295 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:05,920 I I know that's an open-ended question, 1296 00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:08,000 but in balancing the budget, what is the 1297 00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:09,760 first concern in doing that? 1298 00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:11,080 >> Uh, generally paying for existing 1299 00:49:11,080 --> 00:49:12,640 services already, making sure that we 1300 00:49:12,640 --> 00:49:13,840 don't have to cut anything. 1301 00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:21,310 >> Okay, thank you. 1302 00:49:21,320 --> 00:49:24,040 » Um, Spencer, so this when we look at 1303 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:25,680 this schedule for the things that will 1304 00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:27,920 be cut, those are just things this year, 1305 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:28,640 correct? 1306 00:49:28,640 --> 00:49:29,040 >> Yes. 1307 00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:30,360 >> In this year's budget. So, one thing I 1308 00:49:30,360 --> 00:49:32,320 want to point out is that people have 1309 00:49:32,320 --> 00:49:34,080 properly noted that about 1.2 of that 1310 00:49:34,080 --> 00:49:36,800 goes to public safety this year. 1311 00:49:36,800 --> 00:49:38,160 But if I'm looking and I'm looking at 1312 00:49:38,160 --> 00:49:40,160 our budget projections right here, 1313 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:42,200 um, we project to spend for for anyone 1314 00:49:42,200 --> 00:49:43,760 in the audience, uh, I hope this is okay 1315 00:49:43,760 --> 00:49:46,960 to say, 14.5 million this year on public 1316 00:49:46,960 --> 00:49:49,840 safety and 17.6 next year, which is a 1317 00:49:49,840 --> 00:49:53,400 3.1. A lot of those people are hired 1318 00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:55,360 after this budget year. So, these are 1319 00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:57,720 the people that are impacted. Just to 1320 00:49:57,720 --> 00:49:59,240 clarify it for me, too. 1321 00:49:59,240 --> 00:50:01,040 >> We've already made a lot of hires. So, 1322 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:02,840 these ones right here 1323 00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:04,160 >> not hired for these positions. 1324 00:50:04,160 --> 00:50:05,480 >> We have not hired for these, but we've 1325 00:50:05,480 --> 00:50:07,200 already started staffing for the 1326 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:09,160 potential 1327 00:50:09,160 --> 00:50:11,080 future fire station or as I guess the 1328 00:50:11,080 --> 00:50:11,880 fire department is calling it the 1329 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:13,200 outpost. 1330 00:50:13,200 --> 00:50:15,840 Um I think correct me if I'm wrong, 1331 00:50:15,840 --> 00:50:16,680 Chief. You guys already have the 1332 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:18,720 ambulance running out of there, right? 1333 00:50:18,720 --> 00:50:19,560 >> Yeah. 1334 00:50:19,560 --> 00:50:20,760 So, and that's and that's what I want to 1335 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:22,040 clarify for some of the people in the 1336 00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:24,120 audience. It is true that only 1.2 of 1337 00:50:24,120 --> 00:50:27,720 this is going to public safety right now 1338 00:50:27,720 --> 00:50:29,440 in the immediate, but in the next 6 to 1339 00:50:29,440 --> 00:50:32,040 12 months, we do plan to hire 22 1340 00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:34,800 additional firefighter paramedics as 1341 00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:36,400 well as several more police officers. 1342 00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:37,680 So, this is 1343 00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:38,600 um 1344 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:40,840 this is ongoing beyond this year these 1345 00:50:40,840 --> 00:50:42,440 funds. 1346 00:50:42,440 --> 00:50:45,680 >> If I if I could, um this year the the 1347 00:50:45,680 --> 00:50:46,560 um 1348 00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:48,720 the law relative to property tax 1349 00:50:48,720 --> 00:50:51,400 increases changed. And so, in addition 1350 00:50:51,400 --> 00:50:56,640 to showing what we are going to use the tax increase for, we are also 1351 00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:59,760 obligated to show what we we not fund if 1352 00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:01,280 the tax rate increase did not go 1353 00:51:01,280 --> 00:51:03,440 through. And so, we looked at the 1354 00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:06,120 budget. Um as you stated very 1355 00:51:06,120 --> 00:51:08,560 eloquently, there are some things that 1356 00:51:08,560 --> 00:51:11,160 we just absolutely have to do. And so, 1357 00:51:11,160 --> 00:51:13,200 um those are the public safety items. 1358 00:51:13,200 --> 00:51:14,440 And so, some of the things that would 1359 00:51:14,440 --> 00:51:17,000 not be funded um they they have nothing 1360 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:18,960 to do with the property tax. We're 1361 00:51:18,960 --> 00:51:21,120 talking about you know, freeing up other 1362 00:51:21,120 --> 00:51:22,720 revenue streams and other revenue 1363 00:51:22,720 --> 00:51:24,480 sources by not making those additional 1364 00:51:24,480 --> 00:51:26,640 expenditures. And we're trying to follow 1365 00:51:26,640 --> 00:51:28,600 the legislative intent. So, none of the 1366 00:51:28,600 --> 00:51:31,120 positions that are identified in the 1367 00:51:31,120 --> 00:51:34,320 alternative budget have been um hired or 1368 00:51:34,320 --> 00:51:36,480 filled. Those cannot be filled by state 1369 00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:39,120 law until after our rate is certified um 1370 00:51:39,120 --> 00:51:40,920 once this evening's uh 1371 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:43,760 process goes through. So, fundamentally, 1372 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:45,880 um we we did show a a of things that are 1373 00:51:45,880 --> 00:51:48,240 not public safety related. But public 1374 00:51:48,240 --> 00:51:50,800 safety, we generate about $6 million a 1375 00:51:50,800 --> 00:51:53,240 year currently in property tax. 1376 00:51:53,240 --> 00:51:55,280 As you indicated, it's about $14 million 1377 00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:56,560 in this year's expenditures, and it's 1378 00:51:56,560 --> 00:51:58,200 going to go up another $3 million next 1379 00:51:58,200 --> 00:52:00,480 year. So, fundamentally, the property 1380 00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:02,560 taxes that we are increasing are only a 1381 00:52:02,560 --> 00:52:04,560 small portion of what public safety fees 1382 00:52:04,560 --> 00:52:07,280 will be, and they will continue to grow 1383 00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:08,520 as we 1384 00:52:08,520 --> 00:52:10,360 fully staff the fire station in coming 1385 00:52:10,360 --> 00:52:11,960 years, as well as add additional police 1386 00:52:11,960 --> 00:52:12,920 officers. 1387 00:52:12,920 --> 00:52:14,600 >> Thank you for clarifying. 1388 00:52:14,600 --> 00:52:16,360 >> Just to reiterate, that does not mean 1389 00:52:16,360 --> 00:52:17,760 that we're going to raise taxes again to 1390 00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:20,080 meet that, right, Mark? Okay. Just 1391 00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,071 wanted to clarify that. Um 1392 00:52:22,071 --> 00:52:23,360 >> [clears throat] 1393 00:52:23,360 --> 00:52:25,040 >> Thank you for coming. Thank you for 1394 00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:26,640 participating in this. I know there are 1395 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:28,200 some people that are 1396 00:52:28,200 --> 00:52:31,000 for it and against it. 1397 00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:32,600 I see some uh gentleman in the back 1398 00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:38,270 wearing an America 250. 1399 00:52:38,280 --> 00:52:40,280 It's a beautiful place to live. 1400 00:52:40,280 --> 00:52:41,560 We have the freedoms to do this and 1401 00:52:41,560 --> 00:52:44,320 discuss as citizens. 1402 00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:46,520 I get some of you aren't happy. 1403 00:52:46,520 --> 00:52:48,760 I wasn't happy when we first started 1404 00:52:48,760 --> 00:52:52,680 talking about this. We And there's 1405 00:52:52,680 --> 00:52:54,840 it was a hard decision, you know, as 1406 00:52:54,840 --> 00:52:57,120 some people were for and we you know, we 1407 00:52:57,120 --> 00:52:58,560 counseled back and forth. We went to 1408 00:52:58,560 --> 00:52:59,920 staff. 1409 00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:02,280 We did look at budgets and what we could 1410 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:04,240 trim. 1411 00:53:04,240 --> 00:53:05,920 Some of you 1412 00:53:05,920 --> 00:53:09,520 have stressed that you're not as in for 1413 00:53:09,520 --> 00:53:10,760 you don't have the information in front 1414 00:53:10,760 --> 00:53:13,920 of you that that you would like to have. 1415 00:53:13,920 --> 00:53:17,160 Um I think we can work on that. 1416 00:53:17,160 --> 00:53:20,120 Um it might be after the vote, but it at 1417 00:53:20,120 --> 00:53:21,720 least we can get you the information 1418 00:53:21,720 --> 00:53:23,200 that you need. You're the public, you 1419 00:53:23,200 --> 00:53:25,320 deserve it. So, we will 1420 00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:27,960 do we'll do something to get you that 1421 00:53:27,960 --> 00:53:30,440 information. At least maybe I can't, but 1422 00:53:30,440 --> 00:53:35,390 we can ask staff to do that. 1423 00:53:35,400 --> 00:53:37,000 People up here are citizens of this 1424 00:53:37,000 --> 00:53:38,720 city, too. 1425 00:53:38,720 --> 00:53:41,200 We don't go home and cross the 1426 00:53:41,200 --> 00:53:42,880 Saratoga Springs and leave to another 1427 00:53:42,880 --> 00:53:45,640 community. This is our community. 1428 00:53:45,640 --> 00:53:47,760 I've talked with several people that are 1429 00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:49,520 on fixed incomes. 1430 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:52,240 I've talked to people that 1431 00:53:52,240 --> 00:53:53,920 you know, when they first heard the 50% 1432 00:53:53,920 --> 00:53:55,520 it was higher 1433 00:53:55,520 --> 00:53:58,480 and we've reduced that. So, 1434 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:00,280 why Lance? Why why are we doing this? 1435 00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:02,440 Um 1436 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:04,080 we provided a lot of information. If you 1437 00:54:04,080 --> 00:54:05,280 don't have the information, once again, 1438 00:54:05,280 --> 00:54:07,160 we'll work on that. 1439 00:54:07,160 --> 00:54:09,040 But, I want to let you know we did hear 1440 00:54:09,040 --> 00:54:13,120 you this exercise tonight. 1441 00:54:13,120 --> 00:54:16,240 It it was hard. It's it's hard hearing 1442 00:54:16,240 --> 00:54:17,680 people that you live with, that you see 1443 00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:19,680 at the store, that you 1444 00:54:19,680 --> 00:54:20,800 um 1445 00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:23,880 It's it's Yeah, anyway, I 1446 00:54:23,880 --> 00:54:25,880 not an easy discussion to have, but I'm 1447 00:54:25,880 --> 00:54:27,920 glad we're having it. 1448 00:54:27,920 --> 00:54:30,280 It's something that I think we we need 1449 00:54:30,280 --> 00:54:31,720 to celebrate that we've been here I've 1450 00:54:31,720 --> 00:54:35,480 been here in the city for over 25 years. 1451 00:54:35,480 --> 00:54:37,680 Um the fact that we haven't raised taxes 1452 00:54:37,680 --> 00:54:40,440 in over 18 years is amazing and I want 1453 00:54:40,440 --> 00:54:43,400 to applaud the previous councils 1454 00:54:43,400 --> 00:54:45,080 and everything that got us to where we 1455 00:54:45,080 --> 00:54:46,800 are. 1456 00:54:46,800 --> 00:54:48,320 That's different than now. It's a little 1457 00:54:48,320 --> 00:54:50,480 bit of a different story because of some 1458 00:54:50,480 --> 00:54:52,040 other in 1459 00:54:52,040 --> 00:54:53,360 things that have come up because our 1460 00:54:53,360 --> 00:54:55,920 society has changed. If you look at some 1461 00:54:55,920 --> 00:54:58,040 of the If you get down to the bare bones 1462 00:54:58,040 --> 00:55:00,040 of what the police and fire department 1463 00:55:00,040 --> 00:55:01,800 do, do 1464 00:55:01,800 --> 00:55:03,600 the calls per citizen, the calls per 1465 00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:06,080 officer, the calls per 1466 00:55:06,080 --> 00:55:09,280 employee have gone up. 1467 00:55:09,280 --> 00:55:11,080 And I think we can bear that in our 1468 00:55:11,080 --> 00:55:13,320 empirical data. 1469 00:55:13,320 --> 00:55:14,920 Our society has changed. It's not the 1470 00:55:14,920 --> 00:55:16,760 society that we were a couple years ago. 1471 00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:19,680 We have a lot of 1472 00:55:19,680 --> 00:55:22,360 needs that are rising and coming to 1473 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:25,560 fruition because of our society. So, I 1474 00:55:25,560 --> 00:55:28,320 want to let you know it's not the same 1475 00:55:28,320 --> 00:55:30,400 culture that it was 20 years ago or 18 1476 00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:32,600 years ago or 10 years ago. It's changed 1477 00:55:32,600 --> 00:55:33,600 and 1478 00:55:33,600 --> 00:55:36,280 we have to have 1479 00:55:36,280 --> 00:55:38,160 the the responders there to deal with 1480 00:55:38,160 --> 00:55:39,320 it. 1481 00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:42,040 Um once again, my vote 1482 00:55:42,040 --> 00:55:44,360 tonight I was 1483 00:55:44,360 --> 00:55:45,200 you know, if you would talk to me a 1484 00:55:45,200 --> 00:55:48,360 couple days ago, it was here or there. 1485 00:55:48,360 --> 00:55:49,720 And I've counseled with other council 1486 00:55:49,720 --> 00:55:51,018 members and 1487 00:55:51,018 --> 00:55:51,080 >> [clears throat] 1488 00:55:51,080 --> 00:55:53,710 >> um 1489 00:55:53,720 --> 00:55:54,920 anyway, if you ever want to talk to me 1490 00:55:54,920 --> 00:55:56,720 afterwards, my public information is 1491 00:55:56,720 --> 00:55:58,240 there. I would love to talk to you 1492 00:55:58,240 --> 00:56:01,040 individually or as a group and 1493 00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:03,760 explain that and anyway, 1494 00:56:03,760 --> 00:56:04,680 I'm done. 1495 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:08,110 Thanks. 1496 00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:09,400 » Wait. 1497 00:56:09,400 --> 00:56:11,200 Anybody else before me? Okay. Um I just 1498 00:56:11,200 --> 00:56:12,440 want to make sure and I know this was 1499 00:56:12,440 --> 00:56:13,880 brought up lots of times and it might 1500 00:56:13,880 --> 00:56:16,520 not look like um this is how it worked, 1501 00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:18,520 but uh hopefully 1502 00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:22,320 people are aware that um we're 1503 00:56:22,320 --> 00:56:23,840 this was definitely a data-driven 1504 00:56:23,840 --> 00:56:26,240 decision. Um 1505 00:56:26,240 --> 00:56:28,400 we have a lot of very good data in 1506 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:30,560 Saratoga Springs. Um our city manager 1507 00:56:30,560 --> 00:56:32,720 made sure that we had all those numbers 1508 00:56:32,720 --> 00:56:35,160 and that we needed to be able to um 1509 00:56:35,160 --> 00:56:38,120 discuss and talk and um come to a 1510 00:56:38,120 --> 00:56:40,320 determination, but uh 1511 00:56:40,320 --> 00:56:43,160 we had massive amounts of data that we 1512 00:56:43,160 --> 00:56:44,960 reviewed and talked about and looked 1513 00:56:44,960 --> 00:56:48,920 over to be to make this decision. Um 1514 00:56:48,920 --> 00:56:51,240 So, uh we obviously 1515 00:56:51,240 --> 00:56:53,000 uh our discussions were not done 1516 00:56:53,000 --> 00:56:55,320 lightly. Of course, this was a uh 1517 00:56:55,320 --> 00:56:57,720 heavy discussion every time. Um but it 1518 00:56:57,720 --> 00:57:00,200 was very uh it was data-driven. Um I 1519 00:57:00,200 --> 00:57:01,400 just want to make sure people know that. 1520 00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:03,520 I know that was it came up um in quite a 1521 00:57:03,520 --> 00:57:05,760 few comments and stuff like that. Um but 1522 00:57:05,760 --> 00:57:08,680 we have data. We do have that data um 1523 00:57:08,680 --> 00:57:10,800 to back up what we're trying to um 1524 00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:13,840 accomplish with this increase. And so, I 1525 00:57:13,840 --> 00:57:16,280 just wanted to just to make sure that we 1526 00:57:16,280 --> 00:57:18,080 are we uh 1527 00:57:18,080 --> 00:57:20,080 we we did look at a lot of it and it it 1528 00:57:20,080 --> 00:57:21,760 did help us in our decisions on that. 1529 00:57:21,760 --> 00:57:25,990 So. 1530 00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:27,920 » I might not be that short. Sorry. 1531 00:57:27,920 --> 00:57:29,760 Um thank you so much for coming. First 1532 00:57:29,760 --> 00:57:31,080 of all, thank you so much for your 1533 00:57:31,080 --> 00:57:33,600 comments for and against. 1534 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:35,720 Um they're very reasonable. They're very 1535 00:57:35,720 --> 00:57:36,600 um 1536 00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:39,240 important. Um I want to clarify a couple 1537 00:57:39,240 --> 00:57:41,560 things that I took notes on if I can. 1538 00:57:41,560 --> 00:57:43,200 Um again, like 1539 00:57:43,200 --> 00:57:45,760 $1.2 million is shown here to go to 1540 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:48,520 public safety right now, but in the next 1541 00:57:48,520 --> 00:57:50,120 year, [snorts] in the next 12 to 18 1542 00:57:50,120 --> 00:57:52,080 months, 100% of those funds will be 1543 00:57:52,080 --> 00:57:54,360 going to public safety. Um they will not 1544 00:57:54,360 --> 00:57:55,470 be used. Again, 1545 00:57:55,470 --> 00:57:55,560 >> [snorts] 1546 00:57:55,560 --> 00:57:57,720 >> we take home about $6 million in sales 1547 00:57:57,720 --> 00:58:00,320 tax or in property tax right now. We 1548 00:58:00,320 --> 00:58:03,280 spent 14.5 this year. So, we're 1549 00:58:03,280 --> 00:58:04,840 subsidizing the rest of the sales tax. 1550 00:58:04,840 --> 00:58:07,040 We will continue to do that. 1551 00:58:07,040 --> 00:58:08,160 Um 1552 00:58:08,160 --> 00:58:10,480 I'm new to city council. I um I've 1553 00:58:10,480 --> 00:58:12,840 looked over the budget a lot of times 1554 00:58:12,840 --> 00:58:15,640 being new, uh line by line by line. And 1555 00:58:15,640 --> 00:58:18,240 what I found over and over again is a 1556 00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:21,200 really lean city, very efficient. Um we 1557 00:58:21,200 --> 00:58:22,640 reuse equipment that I sometimes 1558 00:58:22,640 --> 00:58:23,880 question whether we should we should 1559 00:58:23,880 --> 00:58:25,920 reuse. We use every strategy I have 1560 00:58:25,920 --> 00:58:28,120 found to save money where we can find. 1561 00:58:28,120 --> 00:58:29,720 We're actually one of the only cities in 1562 00:58:29,720 --> 00:58:31,920 the Wasatch Front that charges the 1563 00:58:31,920 --> 00:58:35,040 full cost of water rates to developers, 1564 00:58:35,040 --> 00:58:36,480 which saves residents money. So, we have 1565 00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:38,440 the lowest water some of the lowest 1566 00:58:38,440 --> 00:58:39,720 water rates 1567 00:58:39,720 --> 00:58:40,280 um 1568 00:58:40,280 --> 00:58:42,200 on the Wasatch Front. 1569 00:58:42,200 --> 00:58:43,400 And in the budget, there's a lot of 1570 00:58:43,400 --> 00:58:44,960 department requests that get denied. So, 1571 00:58:44,960 --> 00:58:46,280 you're seeing the things that got 1572 00:58:46,280 --> 00:58:47,640 approved, but you're not seeing all the 1573 00:58:47,640 --> 00:58:49,600 things that got denied. And we have seen 1574 00:58:49,600 --> 00:58:51,280 a lot of those. 1575 00:58:51,280 --> 00:58:52,360 Um 1576 00:58:52,360 --> 00:58:54,040 I think there's a lot of questions 1577 00:58:54,040 --> 00:58:55,920 around how things are funded. The 1578 00:58:55,920 --> 00:58:59,120 primary two ways that cities can fund 1579 00:58:59,120 --> 00:59:01,920 public safety is property tax and sales 1580 00:59:01,920 --> 00:59:04,640 tax. Um our property tax, as we know, is 1581 00:59:04,640 --> 00:59:06,240 not even covering half of our public 1582 00:59:06,240 --> 00:59:08,960 safety cost. Our sales tax has been 1583 00:59:08,960 --> 00:59:11,280 enough to do that for many years, but 1584 00:59:11,280 --> 00:59:12,840 it's 1585 00:59:12,840 --> 00:59:14,640 but we're facing some headwinds. 1586 00:59:14,640 --> 00:59:16,760 Um there's some proprietary information 1587 00:59:16,760 --> 00:59:19,400 that I can't say in a public meeting, 1588 00:59:19,400 --> 00:59:21,080 um but we do have some things that will 1589 00:59:21,080 --> 00:59:23,760 make it difficult, specifically with 1590 00:59:23,760 --> 00:59:25,760 this large increase in our firefighting 1591 00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:26,800 force, 1592 00:59:26,800 --> 00:59:28,920 to do that. Um but just some numbers 1593 00:59:28,920 --> 00:59:30,320 that I can share. 1594 00:59:30,320 --> 00:59:32,120 2024 we spent 9.8 [clears throat] 1595 00:59:32,120 --> 00:59:35,120 million in public and combined fire and 1596 00:59:35,120 --> 00:59:36,280 police. 1597 00:59:36,280 --> 00:59:39,760 Then it was 12.3, um 14.5. And a lot of 1598 00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:40,960 this is because it's a really 1599 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:44,560 competitive market. We just did um 1600 00:59:44,560 --> 00:59:47,320 a retirement tier two retirement pick up 1601 00:59:47,320 --> 00:59:49,640 like a couple weeks ago for our police 1602 00:59:49,640 --> 00:59:51,600 and fire to better recruit more people. 1603 00:59:51,600 --> 00:59:53,600 We want the best, most experienced 1604 00:59:53,600 --> 00:59:55,040 people coming to our city, and I think 1605 00:59:55,040 --> 00:59:56,400 that's really important. 1606 00:59:56,400 --> 00:59:58,560 Uh and that costs money. 1607 00:59:58,560 --> 00:59:59,720 Um 1608 00:59:59,720 --> 01:00:02,360 and so uh property tax also with the 1609 01:00:02,360 --> 01:00:04,920 certified tax rate as your rate 1610 01:00:04,920 --> 01:00:07,360 as your values go up, the rate goes 1611 01:00:07,360 --> 01:00:09,000 down. Um that's something I didn't 1612 01:00:09,000 --> 01:00:10,440 understand 1613 01:00:10,440 --> 01:00:13,240 before um running for city council. 1614 01:00:13,240 --> 01:00:15,320 And so that doesn't ever account for 1615 01:00:15,320 --> 01:00:17,240 inflation. So we haven't raised property 1616 01:00:17,240 --> 01:00:19,320 taxes in 18 years. I do appreciate lower 1617 01:00:19,320 --> 01:00:21,720 rates, but that's 18 years of inflation 1618 01:00:21,720 --> 01:00:24,680 um that we are considering and trying to 1619 01:00:24,680 --> 01:00:27,360 deal with as we try to keep tax rates 1620 01:00:27,360 --> 01:00:29,240 low. So 1621 01:00:29,240 --> 01:00:33,240 um one other quick clarification or two. 1622 01:00:33,240 --> 01:00:35,320 I believe the city has two Flock cameras 1623 01:00:35,320 --> 01:00:36,760 that we are transitioning away from. Is 1624 01:00:36,760 --> 01:00:39,630 that true? 1625 01:00:39,640 --> 01:00:40,960 The rest are on private property. 1626 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:41,920 >> locations. 1627 01:00:41,920 --> 01:00:43,400 >> Two locations and we are transitioning 1628 01:00:43,400 --> 01:00:45,560 away. So that resident can rest happy 1629 01:00:45,560 --> 01:00:47,480 that we are trying not to use Flock 1630 01:00:47,480 --> 01:00:48,480 cameras in the future. 1631 01:00:48,480 --> 01:00:50,000 >> we'll be done with them by October. 1632 01:00:50,000 --> 01:00:51,120 >> October. Okay. 1633 01:00:51,120 --> 01:00:52,920 So those will be gone by October. I 1634 01:00:52,920 --> 01:00:55,640 appreciate that is something the privacy 1635 01:00:55,640 --> 01:00:58,120 I think is valid. Um we will not be 1636 01:00:58,120 --> 01:01:00,160 doing that. Um 1637 01:01:00,160 --> 01:01:01,720 and 1638 01:01:01,720 --> 01:01:03,280 there was another question about tax 1639 01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:05,320 breaks to businesses and I'm so happy to 1640 01:01:05,320 --> 01:01:06,720 report that that is something that 1641 01:01:06,720 --> 01:01:08,680 Saratoga Springs does not do. 1642 01:01:08,680 --> 01:01:10,840 Um we have given one tax the previous 1643 01:01:10,840 --> 01:01:13,160 city council gave one tax incentive to 1644 01:01:13,160 --> 01:01:15,080 get Costco that is fully paid for. We do 1645 01:01:15,080 --> 01:01:17,560 not have tax incentives which is pretty 1646 01:01:17,560 --> 01:01:19,520 rare for our surrounding city. Is that 1647 01:01:19,520 --> 01:01:20,200 correct? 1648 01:01:20,200 --> 01:01:21,080 >> That's correct. 1649 01:01:21,080 --> 01:01:21,800 >> Okay. 1650 01:01:21,800 --> 01:01:23,480 So just just because I think are 1651 01:01:23,480 --> 01:01:25,280 valuable things for people to know. We 1652 01:01:25,280 --> 01:01:28,000 really hear you. I really hear you. 1653 01:01:28,000 --> 01:01:31,520 Ultimately, I really ran my campaign on 1654 01:01:31,520 --> 01:01:33,560 public safety because I had looked at 1655 01:01:33,560 --> 01:01:34,920 the numbers 1656 01:01:34,920 --> 01:01:36,680 before I decided to run for office and I 1657 01:01:36,680 --> 01:01:38,720 thought it was really important that the 1658 01:01:38,720 --> 01:01:40,792 city fund this. 1659 01:01:40,792 --> 01:01:40,840 >> [clears throat] 1660 01:01:40,840 --> 01:01:43,080 >> I lived in fire prone areas before. I'm 1661 01:01:43,080 --> 01:01:44,960 very cognizant of what that does. I just 1662 01:01:44,960 --> 01:01:46,920 spent 1663 01:01:46,920 --> 01:01:49,080 4 extra hours driving to Oregon to avoid 1664 01:01:49,080 --> 01:01:51,040 fires 2 weeks ago 1665 01:01:51,040 --> 01:01:53,520 and I just think that we cannot 1666 01:01:53,520 --> 01:01:55,640 compromise on public safety and it is so 1667 01:01:55,640 --> 01:01:57,280 important and 1668 01:01:57,280 --> 01:01:58,840 I wish there was a way to help people on 1669 01:01:58,840 --> 01:02:00,480 fixed incomes not feel the burden of 1670 01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:01,440 this. 1671 01:02:01,440 --> 01:02:04,240 I prefer smaller increases when 1672 01:02:04,240 --> 01:02:06,880 possible, but I really think that this 1673 01:02:06,880 --> 01:02:08,800 increase is necessary for the stability 1674 01:02:08,800 --> 01:02:16,280 and safety of our residents. So, we are asking for a significant 1675 01:02:16,280 --> 01:02:18,480 investment from our community. 1676 01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:20,720 Here, we're asking for $3.1 million and 1677 01:02:20,720 --> 01:02:23,400 I want to clarify that it is only the 1678 01:02:23,400 --> 01:02:25,680 portion of your city taxes, which 1679 01:02:25,680 --> 01:02:28,200 currently accounts for about 12% of your 1680 01:02:28,200 --> 01:02:30,480 taxes that are going to is going to be 1681 01:02:30,480 --> 01:02:33,040 raised with this. On the average home 1682 01:02:33,040 --> 01:02:34,680 that is 1683 01:02:34,680 --> 01:02:37,640 around $142,000, 1684 01:02:37,640 --> 01:02:42,390 that equals to about $12 per month. 1685 01:02:42,400 --> 01:02:44,560 $12 is $12. 1686 01:02:44,560 --> 01:02:46,000 In some 1687 01:02:46,000 --> 01:02:47,960 budgets, family budgets, that's a 1688 01:02:47,960 --> 01:02:51,840 little. In some families, that's a lot. 1689 01:02:51,840 --> 01:02:53,600 I want to make sure that you get the 1690 01:02:53,600 --> 01:02:56,800 most value for your $12, for whatever it 1691 01:02:56,800 --> 01:02:58,880 is that you're paying for this. 1692 01:02:58,880 --> 01:03:02,000 Some of the data that we looked at is we 1693 01:03:02,000 --> 01:03:04,880 are building a new fire station. We're 1694 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:07,000 building that new fire station because 1695 01:03:07,000 --> 01:03:09,480 there's a portion of our city 1696 01:03:09,480 --> 01:03:12,080 that the response times are over 10 1697 01:03:12,080 --> 01:03:14,480 minutes. 1698 01:03:14,480 --> 01:03:16,880 The target is around 5 minutes. If 1699 01:03:16,880 --> 01:03:18,240 you've ever 1700 01:03:18,240 --> 01:03:20,000 been on the receiving end of one of 1701 01:03:20,000 --> 01:03:21,920 those calls 1702 01:03:21,920 --> 01:03:23,680 and you're you're it's a life and death 1703 01:03:23,680 --> 01:03:26,640 situation, you know how long 1 minute 1704 01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:27,600 is. 1705 01:03:27,600 --> 01:03:30,240 And so, part of your investment in 1706 01:03:30,240 --> 01:03:31,880 public safety 1707 01:03:31,880 --> 01:03:34,520 is bringing those response times down. 1708 01:03:34,520 --> 01:03:37,440 That is really important. Um 1709 01:03:37,440 --> 01:03:39,320 mutual aid 1710 01:03:39,320 --> 01:03:41,160 Previously, we've been relying on our 1711 01:03:41,160 --> 01:03:43,120 neighbors a lot. 1712 01:03:43,120 --> 01:03:45,120 We've been They've have answered the 1713 01:03:45,120 --> 01:03:46,960 call to help neighbor some of our 1714 01:03:46,960 --> 01:03:48,000 neighbors 1715 01:03:48,000 --> 01:03:50,120 more than we've been able to do that. 1716 01:03:50,120 --> 01:03:51,760 With this, we'll be able to balance 1717 01:03:51,760 --> 01:03:54,200 that. We will be better able to serve 1718 01:03:54,200 --> 01:03:56,280 our own citizens. 1719 01:03:56,280 --> 01:03:58,040 Um 1720 01:03:58,040 --> 01:04:00,720 We want these new 1721 01:04:00,720 --> 01:04:03,280 We will be getting 24 new firefighters 1722 01:04:03,280 --> 01:04:05,560 and six new police officers. 1723 01:04:05,560 --> 01:04:07,320 We want to make sure that they are well 1724 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:10,080 equipped and well trained. 1725 01:04:10,080 --> 01:04:12,960 Um so, that is my focus. Is I understand 1726 01:04:12,960 --> 01:04:14,520 that this is a big ask from our 1727 01:04:14,520 --> 01:04:17,840 community. I understand that it does 1728 01:04:17,840 --> 01:04:21,240 require sacrifice from from some people. 1729 01:04:21,240 --> 01:04:21,880 Um 1730 01:04:21,880 --> 01:04:23,480 and some some of the family budgets and 1731 01:04:23,480 --> 01:04:26,160 that is that is a strain. So, our 1732 01:04:26,160 --> 01:04:28,160 commitment is to make sure that we give 1733 01:04:28,160 --> 01:04:29,920 you as much value for that dollar as 1734 01:04:29,920 --> 01:04:33,670 possible. 1735 01:04:33,680 --> 01:04:35,560 » Okay. 1736 01:04:35,560 --> 01:04:38,520 Mayor, I do have just I was the first to 1737 01:04:38,520 --> 01:04:40,920 go. I do have some follow-up because 1738 01:04:40,920 --> 01:04:42,080 there are a lot of good points that were 1739 01:04:42,080 --> 01:04:43,800 made. Um 1740 01:04:43,800 --> 01:04:45,840 and I'd asked a an open-ended question 1741 01:04:45,840 --> 01:04:47,480 to Spencer and I'd like to come back and 1742 01:04:47,480 --> 01:04:50,360 address that now. 1743 01:04:50,360 --> 01:04:52,000 Um 1744 01:04:52,000 --> 01:04:53,800 there were choices and there have been 1745 01:04:53,800 --> 01:04:55,720 choices made. Um 1746 01:04:55,720 --> 01:04:57,880 and one of those choices that the city 1747 01:04:57,880 --> 01:04:59,040 council 1748 01:04:59,040 --> 01:05:02,160 had made was to reduce the potential 1749 01:05:02,160 --> 01:05:06,640 merit increase for city staff by 20%. 1750 01:05:06,640 --> 01:05:07,680 Um 1751 01:05:07,680 --> 01:05:09,200 we hated doing that. 1752 01:05:09,200 --> 01:05:12,480 But we felt we needed to um try to 1753 01:05:12,480 --> 01:05:15,000 contain the costs as as much as possible 1754 01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:16,160 because 1755 01:05:16,160 --> 01:05:17,920 even though it's going to cost me about 1756 01:05:17,920 --> 01:05:23,280 $13 port $13 more per month, I said um 1757 01:05:23,280 --> 01:05:25,680 money in my pocket or your pocket is it 1758 01:05:25,680 --> 01:05:27,680 does more good than than money in city 1759 01:05:27,680 --> 01:05:30,160 coffers. Problem is is that our coffers 1760 01:05:30,160 --> 01:05:33,200 can't uh aren't sufficient to handle 1761 01:05:33,200 --> 01:05:36,840 what is needed. And the problem with not 1762 01:05:36,840 --> 01:05:37,800 um 1763 01:05:37,800 --> 01:05:42,200 doing a tax increase in in 18 years is 1764 01:05:42,200 --> 01:05:45,160 that devil that is called inflation. 1765 01:05:45,160 --> 01:05:47,560 And if you look at the cost of 1766 01:05:47,560 --> 01:05:50,960 materials, um they've gone up. Well, is 1767 01:05:50,960 --> 01:05:52,280 it really the cost of materials that 1768 01:05:52,280 --> 01:05:54,680 have gone up? No. It's the value of the 1769 01:05:54,680 --> 01:05:57,520 dollar has dropped by 55%. 1770 01:05:57,520 --> 01:06:00,175 And the the problem with that is that 1771 01:06:00,175 --> 01:06:00,360 >> [clears throat] 1772 01:06:00,360 --> 01:06:02,000 >> your operational costs or our 1773 01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:04,040 operational costs have inflated faster 1774 01:06:04,040 --> 01:06:07,280 than than the CPI. And so, especially 1775 01:06:07,280 --> 01:06:08,760 when it comes to asphalt, concrete, and 1776 01:06:08,760 --> 01:06:11,600 everything that is needed to maintain 1777 01:06:11,600 --> 01:06:16,720 our existing uh infrastructure, yes, new construction pays for all of that, 1778 01:06:16,720 --> 01:06:18,640 but we do have existing infrastructure 1779 01:06:18,640 --> 01:06:21,040 that needs to be maintained. 1780 01:06:21,040 --> 01:06:22,960 The real problem is uh under the 1781 01:06:22,960 --> 01:06:25,640 certified Utah certified tax rate is it 1782 01:06:25,640 --> 01:06:27,480 automatically adjusts down to maintain 1783 01:06:27,480 --> 01:06:29,920 revenue neutrality as home prices go or 1784 01:06:29,920 --> 01:06:32,760 home values go up. So, the existing 1785 01:06:32,760 --> 01:06:34,040 property tax collections don't 1786 01:06:34,040 --> 01:06:37,160 automatically adjust for inflation. Um 1787 01:06:37,160 --> 01:06:39,280 and that's where we get the the problem 1788 01:06:39,280 --> 01:06:42,080 where we've been doing uh what we can 1789 01:06:42,080 --> 01:06:44,880 with the increase in homes and 1790 01:06:44,880 --> 01:06:47,760 businesses that have come into the uh 1791 01:06:47,760 --> 01:06:50,280 into the city. So, 1792 01:06:50,280 --> 01:06:52,560 you can have a strategy inflation uh to 1793 01:06:52,560 --> 01:06:54,480 offset these inflationary losses without 1794 01:06:54,480 --> 01:06:56,480 raising property taxes by 1795 01:06:56,480 --> 01:06:58,000 um sales tax growth. And we've seen 1796 01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,200 substantial sales tax growth. Of course, 1797 01:07:00,200 --> 01:07:01,760 some of that's going to leave our city 1798 01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:03,640 now with the opening of Walmart in Eagle 1799 01:07:03,640 --> 01:07:06,520 Mountain and and in Lehi. But they it is 1800 01:07:06,520 --> 01:07:09,000 volatile. Um and the other is the 1801 01:07:09,000 --> 01:07:11,040 revenue from the new residential uh 1802 01:07:11,040 --> 01:07:13,480 developments will help short-term cash 1803 01:07:13,480 --> 01:07:15,600 flows, and it has. But, each new 1804 01:07:15,600 --> 01:07:17,880 subdivision adds long-term maintenance 1805 01:07:17,880 --> 01:07:19,920 uh burdens, more miles, roads, pipes, 1806 01:07:19,920 --> 01:07:21,520 more emergency calls, and we've seen 1807 01:07:21,520 --> 01:07:23,560 that with our emergency calls. 1808 01:07:23,560 --> 01:07:24,671 As uh 1809 01:07:24,671 --> 01:07:25,440 >> [clears throat] 1810 01:07:25,440 --> 01:07:27,560 >> Council member Davenport Port uh 1811 01:07:27,560 --> 01:07:30,600 Davenport pointed out that uh 1812 01:07:30,600 --> 01:07:34,120 11 uh almost 11 minutes, it's over 10, 1813 01:07:34,120 --> 01:07:35,440 is uh 1814 01:07:35,440 --> 01:07:37,960 is is insufficient. For each minute that 1815 01:07:37,960 --> 01:07:40,920 goes by, um Chief Johnson uh had 1816 01:07:40,920 --> 01:07:43,120 testified earlier uh in a prior Council 1817 01:07:43,120 --> 01:07:45,560 meeting that it's a potential life lost, 1818 01:07:45,560 --> 01:07:48,320 and I've had the uh unfortunate position 1819 01:07:48,320 --> 01:07:50,560 to be in a home where someone's not 1820 01:07:50,560 --> 01:07:53,080 breathing and making the decision on 1821 01:07:53,080 --> 01:07:56,200 what to do there, and every second felt 1822 01:07:56,200 --> 01:07:58,760 like a uh tick in my brain, you know, as 1823 01:07:58,760 --> 01:08:01,760 my heartbeat, until they got there. 1824 01:08:01,760 --> 01:08:04,240 The problem is is that uh as Jolene 1825 01:08:04,240 --> 01:08:06,440 Lincoln had pointed out is that the old 1826 01:08:06,440 --> 01:08:08,200 joke, and my wife and I had that joke 1827 01:08:08,200 --> 01:08:09,400 that 1828 01:08:09,400 --> 01:08:11,880 try to get out of a Costco for $100, and 1829 01:08:11,880 --> 01:08:13,720 now it's $200. 1830 01:08:13,720 --> 01:08:16,120 Um that is the true problem with 1831 01:08:16,120 --> 01:08:18,000 inflation and and what we're trying to 1832 01:08:18,000 --> 01:08:21,000 do here, I believe, is to um 1833 01:08:21,000 --> 01:08:23,359 make that correction and and move 1834 01:08:23,359 --> 01:08:24,480 forward. 1835 01:08:24,480 --> 01:08:27,080 If we have to have changes in future 1836 01:08:27,080 --> 01:08:29,839 years, which I based on the projections, 1837 01:08:29,839 --> 01:08:32,040 that should not need to happen anytime 1838 01:08:32,040 --> 01:08:33,920 soon. I think that was a concern, are we 1839 01:08:33,920 --> 01:08:35,319 going to do it year after year after 1840 01:08:35,319 --> 01:08:38,799 year? This is right-siding um our budget 1841 01:08:38,799 --> 01:08:41,160 uh and on this one time, and it does 1842 01:08:41,160 --> 01:08:43,480 come at a cost, but uh we've we've cut 1843 01:08:43,480 --> 01:08:46,160 as much as we possibly can, in my mind. 1844 01:08:46,160 --> 01:08:48,040 I don't believe I don't like to have see 1845 01:08:48,040 --> 01:08:51,440 costs increase for myself, but uh um 1846 01:08:51,440 --> 01:08:53,680 unfortunately, I'm I'm a I'm 1847 01:08:53,680 --> 01:08:55,520 unfortunately, this is something that we 1848 01:08:55,520 --> 01:08:58,040 have to do. 1849 01:08:58,040 --> 01:08:59,200 >> Okay, thank you. I'm going to talk about 1850 01:08:59,200 --> 01:09:00,720 our our process a little bit. So, if you 1851 01:09:00,720 --> 01:09:02,680 haven't been to a public meeting, 1852 01:09:02,680 --> 01:09:04,120 we have public comment and and public 1853 01:09:04,120 --> 01:09:06,520 hearings, and we we don't have a 1854 01:09:06,520 --> 01:09:08,520 back-and-forth exchange. So, some of the 1855 01:09:08,520 --> 01:09:10,600 questions we try and answer 1856 01:09:10,600 --> 01:09:13,160 after the fact. Um some of these have 1857 01:09:13,160 --> 01:09:14,240 been touched on. These are just some of 1858 01:09:14,240 --> 01:09:16,440 my notes. I wanted to touch on these. 1859 01:09:16,440 --> 01:09:19,240 So, first, the certified tax rate. 1860 01:09:19,240 --> 01:09:20,200 If you're not familiar with how 1861 01:09:20,200 --> 01:09:22,240 certified tax rate works in Utah, and 1862 01:09:22,240 --> 01:09:24,279 staff, keep me honest. 1863 01:09:24,279 --> 01:09:26,440 Every year, the county 1864 01:09:26,440 --> 01:09:27,920 um 1865 01:09:27,920 --> 01:09:29,120 not the auditor, 1866 01:09:29,120 --> 01:09:29,680 >> Assessor. 1867 01:09:29,680 --> 01:09:30,640 >> The county Thank you. The county 1868 01:09:30,640 --> 01:09:33,440 assessor will look at the overall value 1869 01:09:33,440 --> 01:09:35,319 of Saratoga Springs houses and 1870 01:09:35,319 --> 01:09:39,480 businesses for property tax purpose. 1871 01:09:39,480 --> 01:09:42,720 They then assign a tax rate 1872 01:09:42,720 --> 01:09:45,440 to every entity that pays into property 1873 01:09:45,440 --> 01:09:47,400 tax. 1874 01:09:47,400 --> 01:09:48,880 In order for the city of Saratoga 1875 01:09:48,880 --> 01:09:51,640 Springs to collect more money, 1876 01:09:51,640 --> 01:09:53,319 the certified tax rate has to be 1877 01:09:53,319 --> 01:09:54,880 adjusted through truth and truth and 1878 01:09:54,880 --> 01:09:56,960 taxation. 1879 01:09:56,960 --> 01:09:59,560 So, when I look at my personal property 1880 01:09:59,560 --> 01:10:00,960 tax bill 1881 01:10:00,960 --> 01:10:05,160 for the city of Saratoga Springs, 1882 01:10:05,160 --> 01:10:08,800 I paid more to the city 10 years ago 1883 01:10:08,800 --> 01:10:12,000 than I do prior to today 1884 01:10:12,000 --> 01:10:13,400 because 1885 01:10:13,400 --> 01:10:15,960 our growth has brought the tax rate 1886 01:10:15,960 --> 01:10:18,240 down, so the city collects the same 1887 01:10:18,240 --> 01:10:20,200 amount of money. Spencer, am I am I 1888 01:10:20,200 --> 01:10:21,120 hitting that right? 1889 01:10:21,120 --> 01:10:23,480 >> So, new growth is added to that number. 1890 01:10:23,480 --> 01:10:25,280 So, for this year, for example, we would 1891 01:10:25,280 --> 01:10:27,880 be adding for approximately $500,000 in 1892 01:10:27,880 --> 01:10:30,000 new property tax revenue from new 1893 01:10:30,000 --> 01:10:31,680 housing, new businesses being built. 1894 01:10:31,680 --> 01:10:33,440 >> Right. Correct. Okay. So, that's the 1895 01:10:33,440 --> 01:10:35,080 certified tax rate. And we've been able 1896 01:10:35,080 --> 01:10:37,760 to manage We in 18 years, 1897 01:10:37,760 --> 01:10:40,240 we've gone from a volunteer, well, 1898 01:10:40,240 --> 01:10:43,080 part-time fire department. Correct. 18 1899 01:10:43,080 --> 01:10:45,440 years ago. To now being a fully staffed, 1900 01:10:45,440 --> 01:10:46,800 full-time department where I think we 1901 01:10:46,800 --> 01:10:49,000 have two part-time employees in our in 1902 01:10:49,000 --> 01:10:51,280 our firefighting service. So, we've been 1903 01:10:51,280 --> 01:10:54,160 able to manage that growth over the 18 1904 01:10:54,160 --> 01:10:56,760 year over those 18 years using new 1905 01:10:56,760 --> 01:10:58,520 growth. 1906 01:10:58,520 --> 01:10:59,960 The new fire department that needs to be 1907 01:10:59,960 --> 01:11:01,760 built, um 1908 01:11:01,760 --> 01:11:04,200 that will be handled through new growth. 1909 01:11:04,200 --> 01:11:07,160 That's not part of what this ask is. So, 1910 01:11:07,160 --> 01:11:08,640 we can use the question was brought up 1911 01:11:08,640 --> 01:11:11,760 on impact fees. So, when a new home is 1912 01:11:11,760 --> 01:11:13,760 built, impact fees are collected and we 1913 01:11:13,760 --> 01:11:16,360 can use those impact fees to build the 1914 01:11:16,360 --> 01:11:18,000 new fire station. What we can't use 1915 01:11:18,000 --> 01:11:20,520 impact fees for are for the ongoing 1916 01:11:20,520 --> 01:11:22,280 costs of personnel. 1917 01:11:22,280 --> 01:11:24,560 We've been able to grow city staff 1918 01:11:24,560 --> 01:11:27,240 with the growth of the city through new 1919 01:11:27,240 --> 01:11:29,320 growth of new residents and new 1920 01:11:29,320 --> 01:11:31,520 businesses and new sales tax. 1921 01:11:31,520 --> 01:11:33,520 This particular year, and the reason 1922 01:11:33,520 --> 01:11:36,040 this has come up is because we have kind 1923 01:11:36,040 --> 01:11:38,720 of an anomaly. We have to hire a large 1924 01:11:38,720 --> 01:11:41,400 amount of new employees to house the new 1925 01:11:41,400 --> 01:11:43,040 fire station 1926 01:11:43,040 --> 01:11:45,960 and and support the uh additional police 1927 01:11:45,960 --> 01:11:51,480 required. And so, the the increase is 1928 01:11:51,480 --> 01:11:55,000 fully going towards partially funding 1929 01:11:55,000 --> 01:11:56,760 the public safety 1930 01:11:56,760 --> 01:11:59,200 cost that we incur. 1931 01:11:59,200 --> 01:12:01,000 Uh and it's just the the personnel, it's 1932 01:12:01,000 --> 01:12:03,320 not the the fire station. Uh the 1933 01:12:03,320 --> 01:12:05,040 question was brought up on on tax 1934 01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:07,280 incentives and uh Council member Wilson 1935 01:12:07,280 --> 01:12:08,800 talked about this. 1936 01:12:08,800 --> 01:12:11,240 There's only been one incentive in the 1937 01:12:11,240 --> 01:12:12,880 history of Saratoga Springs and it was 1938 01:12:12,880 --> 01:12:15,560 Costco. It was about a 10-year deal and 1939 01:12:15,560 --> 01:12:17,680 it was done in it was paid off in 7 1940 01:12:17,680 --> 01:12:20,160 years and it was not a property tax 1941 01:12:20,160 --> 01:12:23,200 incentive. It was a performance-based 1942 01:12:23,200 --> 01:12:25,280 sales tax incentive. 1943 01:12:25,280 --> 01:12:28,240 So, they received a portion of sales tax 1944 01:12:28,240 --> 01:12:29,760 collected 1945 01:12:29,760 --> 01:12:34,120 from sales at Costco back until they hit a certain number and that we 1946 01:12:34,120 --> 01:12:35,680 projected about a 10-year payoff. It was 1947 01:12:35,680 --> 01:12:38,240 done in about 7 and 1/2 years. 1948 01:12:38,240 --> 01:12:40,120 And we don't have any other 1949 01:12:40,120 --> 01:12:41,160 um 1950 01:12:41,160 --> 01:12:43,560 commercial or um 1951 01:12:43,560 --> 01:12:45,480 residential incentives that we're 1952 01:12:45,480 --> 01:12:49,750 looking at in the future at this time. 1953 01:12:49,760 --> 01:12:52,720 Um other revenue sources, so this is 1954 01:12:52,720 --> 01:12:54,640 something I had to learn early on uh 1955 01:12:54,640 --> 01:12:56,920 when I was on the council. 1956 01:12:56,920 --> 01:12:59,320 When you look at an overall city budget, 1957 01:12:59,320 --> 01:13:01,040 a lot of the money that goes into a city 1958 01:13:01,040 --> 01:13:05,080 budget is is already earmarked and 1959 01:13:05,080 --> 01:13:06,800 um 1960 01:13:06,800 --> 01:13:09,440 dedicated towards the expenses that it 1961 01:13:09,440 --> 01:13:11,320 has to be per state code. So, when we 1962 01:13:11,320 --> 01:13:12,960 look at impact fees, 1963 01:13:12,960 --> 01:13:15,440 uh we can't collect impact fees and pay 1964 01:13:15,440 --> 01:13:17,600 for things that are not intended for. 1965 01:13:17,600 --> 01:13:19,680 And those have to be proven 1966 01:13:19,680 --> 01:13:21,640 through impact fee studies 1967 01:13:21,640 --> 01:13:22,960 um 1968 01:13:22,960 --> 01:13:25,640 that the impact fees collected are going 1969 01:13:25,640 --> 01:13:28,080 to pay for the impact of that growth. 1970 01:13:28,080 --> 01:13:30,240 And we get audited on that by the state 1971 01:13:30,240 --> 01:13:32,400 um to make sure that we are not over 1972 01:13:32,400 --> 01:13:33,880 collecting on impact fees and using them 1973 01:13:33,880 --> 01:13:35,840 for other things. 1974 01:13:35,840 --> 01:13:37,280 And then my final note was on budget 1975 01:13:37,280 --> 01:13:39,440 documents. Uh if you go to the city 1976 01:13:39,440 --> 01:13:41,440 website and you just type in the search 1977 01:13:41,440 --> 01:13:43,160 window budget documents, you'll find a 1978 01:13:43,160 --> 01:13:45,400 couple documents. One, there's about a 1979 01:13:45,400 --> 01:13:47,200 I don't want to guess about a 300-page 1980 01:13:47,200 --> 01:13:49,080 document that's the complete city budget 1981 01:13:49,080 --> 01:13:51,040 and it's there for every year. And then 1982 01:13:51,040 --> 01:13:54,240 there's about a seven-page um 1983 01:13:54,240 --> 01:13:54,600 Huh? 1984 01:13:54,600 --> 01:13:55,360 >> Citizen budget. 1985 01:13:55,360 --> 01:13:57,400 yeah. That for me is 1986 01:13:57,400 --> 01:13:58,800 frankly much easier to understand than 1987 01:13:58,800 --> 01:14:01,280 the but the the larger budget document 1988 01:14:01,280 --> 01:14:03,400 does go through line by line 1989 01:14:03,400 --> 01:14:05,880 uh department by by department on 1990 01:14:05,880 --> 01:14:07,280 uh where every all the spending and all 1991 01:14:07,280 --> 01:14:09,320 the revenue is. 1992 01:14:09,320 --> 01:14:11,080 Okay, are there any other 1993 01:14:11,080 --> 01:14:12,480 questions or comments? Mark, I think you 1994 01:14:12,480 --> 01:14:13,120 might have one. 1995 01:14:13,120 --> 01:14:14,040 >> I just wanted to provide a bit of 1996 01:14:14,040 --> 01:14:15,480 information. Uh there's been several 1997 01:14:15,480 --> 01:14:17,360 questions about new growth. Um I only 1998 01:14:17,360 --> 01:14:19,680 have 16 years worth of data here, but if 1999 01:14:19,680 --> 01:14:23,200 you think of 2009 and 2008, there was 2000 01:14:23,200 --> 01:14:24,720 not a whole lot of new growth happening 2001 01:14:24,720 --> 01:14:26,440 in Saratoga Springs because the market 2002 01:14:26,440 --> 01:14:29,920 collapsed in '27. Uh you know, around uh 2003 01:14:29,920 --> 01:14:33,880 2007, sorry. Um on average across those 2004 01:14:33,880 --> 01:14:35,640 16 years, the city has collected 2005 01:14:35,640 --> 01:14:38,710 $266,051 2006 01:14:38,720 --> 01:14:41,480 in new growth over that 16-year window. 2007 01:14:41,480 --> 01:14:42,800 So, some years it was higher, other 2008 01:14:42,800 --> 01:14:45,280 years it was only um 2009 01:14:45,280 --> 01:14:47,040 $2,511 2010 01:14:47,040 --> 01:14:50,200 of new growth in 2011. So, so what we're 2011 01:14:50,200 --> 01:14:52,520 talking about is is over that duration 2012 01:14:52,520 --> 01:14:54,440 of time about a quarter of a million 2013 01:14:54,440 --> 01:14:56,840 dollars a year in new growth tax value 2014 01:14:56,840 --> 01:15:00,000 that has grown for the city. So, again, 2015 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:01,680 a lot of questions that have been around 2016 01:15:01,680 --> 01:15:02,640 that, 2017 01:15:02,640 --> 01:15:04,920 but but that's the that's the numeric 2018 01:15:04,920 --> 01:15:06,680 growth of what new growth has been over 2019 01:15:06,680 --> 01:15:08,680 that time period. 2020 01:15:08,680 --> 01:15:10,240 >> I think just a couple more comments. 2021 01:15:10,240 --> 01:15:11,240 Yeah, 2022 01:15:11,240 --> 01:15:12,040 over here first. 2023 01:15:12,040 --> 01:15:14,120 >> That's great. I just wanted to say thank 2024 01:15:14,120 --> 01:15:15,240 you. 2025 01:15:15,240 --> 01:15:16,960 When I talk about data data-driven 2026 01:15:16,960 --> 01:15:18,960 decisions from what everybody said that 2027 01:15:18,960 --> 01:15:21,080 that's how we do that. So, I want to I 2028 01:15:21,080 --> 01:15:22,360 want to tell my fellow council members 2029 01:15:22,360 --> 01:15:24,640 thank you for responding to all those 2030 01:15:24,640 --> 01:15:26,480 questions about the data and what we use 2031 01:15:26,480 --> 01:15:28,880 and kind of the why behind everything. 2032 01:15:28,880 --> 01:15:31,200 Hopefully that's helpful 2033 01:15:31,200 --> 01:15:33,680 to everybody why the why behind that 2034 01:15:33,680 --> 01:15:35,000 with our with the data that we have for 2035 01:15:35,000 --> 01:15:37,360 that and just everybody who's here, 2036 01:15:37,360 --> 01:15:38,960 everybody's online, anybody please if 2037 01:15:38,960 --> 01:15:40,000 you still have questions reach out to 2038 01:15:40,000 --> 01:15:41,960 us. Appreciate you guys coming. That's 2039 01:15:41,960 --> 01:15:43,400 what how the process works and we love 2040 01:15:43,400 --> 01:15:45,800 it and it and 2041 01:15:45,800 --> 01:15:47,880 I I hope we hope we answer a lot of your 2042 01:15:47,880 --> 01:15:49,400 questions. 2043 01:15:49,400 --> 01:15:50,920 Like we like mayor said we can't have 2044 01:15:50,920 --> 01:15:52,600 the back and forth at this meeting, but 2045 01:15:52,600 --> 01:15:54,440 we still love to have those. So, please 2046 01:15:54,440 --> 01:15:56,280 reach out if you want to, but thank you 2047 01:15:56,280 --> 01:15:57,560 again for my fellow council members for 2048 01:15:57,560 --> 01:15:59,320 bringing out that date. Kind of a little 2049 01:15:59,320 --> 01:16:00,840 bit of the data that we you know that we 2050 01:16:00,840 --> 01:16:02,360 had in front of us that we could go off 2051 01:16:02,360 --> 01:16:04,630 of. 2052 01:16:04,640 --> 01:16:05,400 » Yep. 2053 01:16:05,400 --> 01:16:07,560 >> Yeah, and also staff keep me honest as 2054 01:16:07,560 --> 01:16:08,880 well. Um 2055 01:16:08,880 --> 01:16:11,320 I wanted to address a little bit of the 2056 01:16:11,320 --> 01:16:12,720 new growth that I found kind of 2057 01:16:12,720 --> 01:16:15,320 interesting. So, the cost of public 2058 01:16:15,320 --> 01:16:17,360 safety per household is just under 2059 01:16:17,360 --> 01:16:19,157 $1,000 a year, 900 to 1,000 2060 01:16:19,157 --> 01:16:19,880 [clears throat] 2061 01:16:19,880 --> 01:16:21,320 if we're at least as similar to 2062 01:16:21,320 --> 01:16:23,360 comparable cities. 2063 01:16:23,360 --> 01:16:25,360 I was looking at a similar size city 2064 01:16:25,360 --> 01:16:27,280 just north of us that 2065 01:16:27,280 --> 01:16:29,320 charges the full cost of public safety 2066 01:16:29,320 --> 01:16:30,760 fire and police to their residents and 2067 01:16:30,760 --> 01:16:33,320 they're spending 947 a year 2068 01:16:33,320 --> 01:16:35,200 for that. We're probably a little bit 2069 01:16:35,200 --> 01:16:36,480 leaner than they are. We might be a 2070 01:16:36,480 --> 01:16:37,600 little bit under that, but let's say 2071 01:16:37,600 --> 01:16:40,720 900. Um currently the median household 2072 01:16:40,720 --> 01:16:44,200 spends $261 in property tax a year. 2073 01:16:44,200 --> 01:16:45,920 So, the rest of that is subsidized 2074 01:16:45,920 --> 01:16:47,960 through sales tax. Commercial pays a 2075 01:16:47,960 --> 01:16:49,240 little bit more. 2076 01:16:49,240 --> 01:16:52,920 Um 45% more. Um so, every time a new 2077 01:16:52,920 --> 01:16:55,400 house is built, we are subsidizing more 2078 01:16:55,400 --> 01:16:58,200 of the cost of their public service. So, 2079 01:16:58,200 --> 01:16:59,600 even though we are collecting more 2080 01:16:59,600 --> 01:17:01,680 revenue, we are not collecting enough 2081 01:17:01,680 --> 01:17:04,600 revenue. We're hoping um in the past, 2082 01:17:04,600 --> 01:17:06,960 Saratoga Springs has paid about half 2083 01:17:06,960 --> 01:17:09,880 property tax, half sales tax towards 2084 01:17:09,880 --> 01:17:12,160 public safety costs. We're now down to a 2085 01:17:12,160 --> 01:17:14,120 point where projected, if we don't pass 2086 01:17:14,120 --> 01:17:16,360 this tax increase, next year we'll be 2087 01:17:16,360 --> 01:17:20,560 paying 1/3 property tax, 2/3 sales tax. 2088 01:17:20,560 --> 01:17:22,200 We're just hoping to get it back up to 2089 01:17:22,200 --> 01:17:25,080 that that halfway, that 50% level, 2090 01:17:25,080 --> 01:17:26,640 because we believe that's better for the 2091 01:17:26,640 --> 01:17:28,800 stable future. Um if there is a 2092 01:17:28,800 --> 01:17:30,720 recession and the economy crashes, we 2093 01:17:30,720 --> 01:17:33,120 don't have to lay off 2094 01:17:33,120 --> 01:17:34,320 firefighters. 2095 01:17:34,320 --> 01:17:36,080 Um and that that is that is where I come 2096 01:17:36,080 --> 01:17:37,560 down on this decision is when I think 2097 01:17:37,560 --> 01:17:40,800 about growth helps and it also adds 2098 01:17:40,800 --> 01:17:43,000 costs. And so, balancing that and making 2099 01:17:43,000 --> 01:17:46,040 sure that our growth is um sufficiently 2100 01:17:46,040 --> 01:17:47,520 helping with those costs is one of the 2101 01:17:47,520 --> 01:17:49,760 concerns I've had, because 2102 01:17:49,760 --> 01:17:52,040 the especially the sales tax fund is it 2103 01:17:52,040 --> 01:17:54,040 needs to be I do want the library to be 2104 01:17:54,040 --> 01:17:56,960 funded. I do want us to have recreation 2105 01:17:56,960 --> 01:17:58,720 and parks and I was too late signing up 2106 01:17:58,720 --> 01:18:01,640 my kid for for soccer and you know, I I 2107 01:18:01,640 --> 01:18:03,200 get the stress of parents in that 2108 01:18:03,200 --> 01:18:05,000 situation and I do want us to have a 2109 01:18:05,000 --> 01:18:06,800 quality of life and we do want to 2110 01:18:06,800 --> 01:18:09,040 balance that and keep subsidizing with 2111 01:18:09,040 --> 01:18:11,160 sales tax, so we're not paying so 2112 01:18:11,160 --> 01:18:13,440 residents aren't paying the full cost, 2113 01:18:13,440 --> 01:18:15,040 especially people on low incomes, 2114 01:18:15,040 --> 01:18:16,920 especially people with fixed incomes. 2115 01:18:16,920 --> 01:18:19,040 So, this is this decision is just how do 2116 01:18:19,040 --> 01:18:22,760 we balance that? Um how do we come to I 2117 01:18:22,760 --> 01:18:24,840 we really went back and forth on 2118 01:18:24,840 --> 01:18:26,800 what the right number was. Do we want to 2119 01:18:26,800 --> 01:18:28,920 try to, you know, 2120 01:18:28,920 --> 01:18:31,880 go higher, go lower, go over years. 2121 01:18:31,880 --> 01:18:33,800 It is a hard decision, no matter how you 2122 01:18:33,800 --> 01:18:36,000 do it. Um I do you we're really trying 2123 01:18:36,000 --> 01:18:38,520 to balance 2124 01:18:38,520 --> 01:18:40,960 keeping the budget really stable 2125 01:18:40,960 --> 01:18:42,920 in a really fast-growing city that we 2126 01:18:42,920 --> 01:18:45,720 can't always control the growth of while 2127 01:18:45,720 --> 01:18:47,120 we are actually, I think, the 12th 2128 01:18:47,120 --> 01:18:48,320 largest city in the state, maybe the 2129 01:18:48,320 --> 01:18:51,680 13th at this point. Um we're we're we're 2130 01:18:51,680 --> 01:18:53,800 up there. And when I moved in, I think 2131 01:18:53,800 --> 01:18:55,600 we were like number 26. That was 5 years 2132 01:18:55,600 --> 01:18:58,240 ago. Um so we're we really want to be 2133 01:18:58,240 --> 01:19:00,080 able to provide services 2134 01:19:00,080 --> 01:19:02,360 while keeping taxes as low, and I I'm 2135 01:19:02,360 --> 01:19:03,720 not sure if we've threaded the needle 2136 01:19:03,720 --> 01:19:05,440 perfectly, but we that is what I am 2137 01:19:05,440 --> 01:19:07,840 trying to do here. 2138 01:19:07,840 --> 01:19:10,480 >> Okay, Council any other comments? 2139 01:19:10,480 --> 01:19:11,680 If not, I'll entertain a motion on 2140 01:19:11,680 --> 01:19:13,040 business on public hearing item number 2141 01:19:13,040 --> 01:19:16,990 two. 2142 01:19:17,000 --> 01:19:18,760 Oh, I'm sorry. 2143 01:19:18,760 --> 01:19:20,920 On business item 2144 01:19:20,920 --> 01:19:22,720 uh action item two. 2145 01:19:22,720 --> 01:19:28,230 Thank you, Kevin. 2146 01:19:28,240 --> 01:19:32,550 Motion on action item number two. 2147 01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:33,800 » Uh um 2148 01:19:33,800 --> 01:19:35,760 I move that we consider the resolution 2149 01:19:35,760 --> 01:19:37,560 R-26-44 2150 01:19:37,560 --> 01:19:39,240 dated today 2151 01:19:39,240 --> 01:19:41,000 adopting the certified tax rate for the 2152 01:19:41,000 --> 01:19:42,840 general revenue fund for the fiscal year 2153 01:19:42,840 --> 01:19:45,520 2026-2027. 2154 01:19:45,520 --> 01:19:47,640 >> Approve or consider? You said consider. 2155 01:19:47,640 --> 01:19:50,200 >> Oh, sorry. I move that we approve 2156 01:19:50,200 --> 01:19:53,320 resolution R-26-44 dated today adopting 2157 01:19:53,320 --> 01:19:54,840 the certified tax rate for the general 2158 01:19:54,840 --> 01:19:55,600 rep 2159 01:19:55,600 --> 01:19:56,800 revenue fund for the fiscal year 2160 01:19:56,800 --> 01:19:58,360 2026-2027. 2161 01:19:58,360 --> 01:19:59,480 >> Okay. I've got a first from 2162 01:19:59,480 --> 01:20:02,830 Councilmember Wilson. 2163 01:20:02,840 --> 01:20:03,560 » Second. 2164 01:20:03,560 --> 01:20:04,920 from Councilmember Davenport. 2165 01:20:04,920 --> 01:20:06,400 We'll We'll do a roll call vote of the 2166 01:20:06,400 --> 01:20:07,800 Council. 2167 01:20:07,800 --> 01:20:08,800 Councilmember Wadman? 2168 01:20:08,800 --> 01:20:09,360 >> Yes. 2169 01:20:09,360 --> 01:20:10,480 >> Councilmember Barton? 2170 01:20:10,480 --> 01:20:10,960 >> Yes. 2171 01:20:10,960 --> 01:20:12,200 >> Councilmember Davenport? 2172 01:20:12,200 --> 01:20:12,600 >> Yes. 2173 01:20:12,600 --> 01:20:13,680 >> Councilmember Taylor? 2174 01:20:13,680 --> 01:20:14,120 >> Yes. 2175 01:20:14,120 --> 01:20:15,200 >> Councilmember Wilson? 2176 01:20:15,200 --> 01:20:16,040 >> Yes. 2177 01:20:16,040 --> 01:20:17,680 >> Okay, that resolution passes. We'll go 2178 01:20:17,680 --> 01:20:19,400 to public hearing 2179 01:20:19,400 --> 01:20:21,040 item three. 2180 01:20:21,040 --> 01:20:22,640 Public hearing for the City of Saratoga 2181 01:20:22,640 --> 01:20:25,440 Springs final fiscal year 2026-2027 2182 01:20:25,440 --> 01:20:29,040 budget. Presentation of the FY2026-2027 2183 01:20:29,040 --> 01:20:31,080 final budget. Spencer. 2184 01:20:31,080 --> 01:20:33,200 >> Okay. Um 2185 01:20:33,200 --> 01:20:34,520 So this year was a little bit different 2186 01:20:34,520 --> 01:20:36,200 as we've explained before due to the 2187 01:20:36,200 --> 01:20:39,200 property tax. We um normally most years 2188 01:20:39,200 --> 01:20:41,600 we adopt the final budget in May or 2189 01:20:41,600 --> 01:20:44,000 June. Um but due to the property tax 2190 01:20:44,000 --> 01:20:46,400 changes this year 2191 01:20:46,400 --> 01:20:49,160 um we cannot adopt a final budget till 2192 01:20:49,160 --> 01:20:52,440 the new property tax is certified. Um 2193 01:20:52,440 --> 01:20:54,560 and so now that we have a certified tax 2194 01:20:54,560 --> 01:20:58,160 rate um the council can now uh make 2195 01:20:58,160 --> 01:20:59,400 actual 2196 01:20:59,400 --> 01:21:01,080 uh action on the budget and adopt a 2197 01:21:01,080 --> 01:21:02,880 final budget. What we have right now 2198 01:21:02,880 --> 01:21:04,000 since we're already into the fiscal year 2199 01:21:04,000 --> 01:21:05,600 we're operating on an interim budget is 2200 01:21:05,600 --> 01:21:06,760 what it's called. 2201 01:21:06,760 --> 01:21:10,240 And so month and a half of interim um 2202 01:21:10,240 --> 01:21:11,800 council tonight can make an action so 2203 01:21:11,800 --> 01:21:14,720 decide uh to do final budget. Um 2204 01:21:14,720 --> 01:21:15,960 we presented it multiple times. There's 2205 01:21:15,960 --> 01:21:19,720 been no changes to the final budget. Um 2206 01:21:19,720 --> 01:21:22,280 the major changes are mostly concerning 2207 01:21:22,280 --> 01:21:24,400 public safety um with also some other 2208 01:21:24,400 --> 01:21:26,040 changes concerning library and public 2209 01:21:26,040 --> 01:21:27,800 works as well. Any questions for staff 2210 01:21:27,800 --> 01:21:30,470 at this time? 2211 01:21:30,480 --> 01:21:32,120 » No, this is a public hearing so I'll 2212 01:21:32,120 --> 01:21:33,920 open the public hearing 2213 01:21:33,920 --> 01:21:36,560 for 2214 01:21:36,560 --> 01:21:38,680 I got too many pieces of paper action 2215 01:21:38,680 --> 01:21:40,680 item No, public hearing item number 2216 01:21:40,680 --> 01:21:42,560 three. 2217 01:21:42,560 --> 01:21:43,760 Uh please be respectful in your 2218 01:21:43,760 --> 01:21:45,280 comments. Please limit comments to three 2219 01:21:45,280 --> 01:21:46,640 minutes. Time may not be given to 2220 01:21:46,640 --> 01:21:48,320 another commenter. Please avoid 2221 01:21:48,320 --> 01:21:50,720 repetitive comments. Is anybody here for 2222 01:21:50,720 --> 01:21:56,390 public hearing item three? 2223 01:21:56,400 --> 01:21:58,000 Okay, seeing none I'll close public 2224 01:21:58,000 --> 01:21:59,840 comment and turn it over to the council 2225 01:21:59,840 --> 01:22:05,230 for questions. 2226 01:22:05,240 --> 01:22:07,040 Seeing none I'll entertain a motion on 2227 01:22:07,040 --> 01:22:10,630 public hearing item number three. 2228 01:22:10,640 --> 01:22:11,840 » I 2229 01:22:11,840 --> 01:22:13,320 That's just for the public hearing item 2230 01:22:13,320 --> 01:22:14,520 three and then 2231 01:22:14,520 --> 01:22:16,240 >> Four is a consideration 2232 01:22:16,240 --> 01:22:18,280 >> Okay, thank you Kevin. 2233 01:22:18,280 --> 01:22:20,160 So, that is uh that closes out public 2234 01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:22,080 hearing item number three. We'll go to 2235 01:22:22,080 --> 01:22:24,320 uh action item four consideration of 2236 01:22:24,320 --> 01:22:26,440 ordinance 2635 2237 01:22:26,440 --> 01:22:28,440 dated today adopting a final budget for 2238 01:22:28,440 --> 01:22:31,200 FY26-27, including a property tax rate 2239 01:22:31,200 --> 01:22:33,040 increase, compensation schedule for 2240 01:22:33,040 --> 01:22:35,280 elected and statutory officers, 2241 01:22:35,280 --> 01:22:37,040 and compensation increase for defined 2242 01:22:37,040 --> 01:22:39,240 municipal officers. 2243 01:22:39,240 --> 01:22:40,880 >> I move that we 2244 01:22:40,880 --> 01:22:40,960 um 2245 01:22:40,960 --> 01:22:42,280 >> We have Real quick, are there any 2246 01:22:42,280 --> 01:22:45,000 questions on this action item? 2247 01:22:45,000 --> 01:22:46,400 Okay, I'll entertain a motion. 2248 01:22:46,400 --> 01:22:47,320 >> Thank you. 2249 01:22:47,320 --> 01:22:49,560 I move that we approve ordinance number 2250 01:22:49,560 --> 01:22:51,000 26 2251 01:22:51,000 --> 01:22:53,320 -35, dated today, 2252 01:22:53,320 --> 01:22:55,120 uh ordinance adopting final budget for 2253 01:22:55,120 --> 01:22:57,280 fiscal year 26-27, 2254 01:22:57,280 --> 01:22:58,520 including all property tax rate 2255 01:22:58,520 --> 01:23:00,120 increases, compensation schedules for 2256 01:23:00,120 --> 01:23:01,840 elected and statutory officers, and 2257 01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:03,240 compensation increase for defined 2258 01:23:03,240 --> 01:23:05,600 executive municipal officers. 2259 01:23:05,600 --> 01:23:07,120 >> Thank you. It's got a first from Council 2260 01:23:07,120 --> 01:23:10,080 Member Taylor. 2261 01:23:10,080 --> 01:23:10,800 >> Second. 2262 01:23:10,800 --> 01:23:12,320 >> A second from Council Member Wilson. 2263 01:23:12,320 --> 01:23:13,840 We'll do a roll call vote. Council 2264 01:23:13,840 --> 01:23:15,040 Member Wilson? 2265 01:23:15,040 --> 01:23:15,480 >> Yes. 2266 01:23:15,480 --> 01:23:16,000 >> Wadman? 2267 01:23:16,000 --> 01:23:16,440 >> Yes. 2268 01:23:16,440 --> 01:23:16,920 >> Barton? 2269 01:23:16,920 --> 01:23:17,360 >> Yes. 2270 01:23:17,360 --> 01:23:18,040 >> Davenport? 2271 01:23:18,040 --> 01:23:18,480 >> Yes. 2272 01:23:18,480 --> 01:23:19,080 >> Taylor? 2273 01:23:19,080 --> 01:23:19,960 >> Yes. 2274 01:23:19,960 --> 01:23:22,520 >> Okay, final budget passed unanimous. 2275 01:23:22,520 --> 01:23:24,600 If there uh is there a need for closed 2276 01:23:24,600 --> 01:23:25,440 session tonight? 2277 01:23:25,440 --> 01:23:26,360 >> No. 2278 01:23:26,360 --> 01:23:28,040 need for closed session, so without 2279 01:23:28,040 --> 01:23:30,360 objection, 2280 01:23:30,360 --> 01:23:33,040 we are adjourned.