09/17/2024 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council President Pro Tempore Glassburn: Seconded by Councilman Limpert, Roll call, please. Council Clerk: Mr. Glassburn: Yes, with comment. I'm not going to filibuster this for 19 minutes, as was just done. The City faces any number of challenges, but unvoted tax increases of 29% are not the solution to those problems. The notion that our City cannot survive for a year on a 15% increase or a 22% increase is simply bonkers. My preference, I've stated, is 50%. In the interest of compromise, I've offered 25%. 1 encourage a yes vote on this amendment. Council Clerk: Mr. Limpert: No, with comment. I do concur that the increase that the County has set up through their evaluation process is significant. I also look to the Finance Director, and the Administration to be thoughtful of the challenges and opportunities that lay before us, and I look to us as a Council to ensure that receiving what would be considered a much higher rate of property tax than had been levied in the past, that we would make dedicated solutions and not treat these as expected income, and use it to reduce City debt, or ensure the way that it's spent would be in a revenue -generating approach rather than in a business -as -usual approach. So, that's why I vote no. Thank you. Ms. Gilchrist: No Ms. Hemann: Yes, with a comment. While I realize that although small, as pointed out, and what seems to be insignificant in dollars, perhaps, of relief to residents, I'm of the opinion that any amount of property tax relief to our residents is better than no relief for where we are at this moment, and that this will be reviewed again next year, as it is every year, and everything can be reevaluated at that point. Also, staring down at a request for a 40% tax abatement is not something I can say to my residents that, you know, we deserve to give others a break and not them. So, I'm a yes. Mr. Shymske: No, with a comment. I am certainly conflicted myself on this, but no one wants to raise taxes, and no one wants to be responsible for cutting services, so I'm a no. Mr. Madden: Yes. Council President Pro Tempore Glassburn: Director Gareau? Law Director Gareau: Mr. Chairman, with a 3-3 vote. The motion does not carry. The legislation would proceed on second reading without an amendment. 09-17-24 Council Meeting Minutes - Page 9