City seeks $1.5 million from county edit fund to complete Riley–Ray Park trail; cites revenue impacts from recent state law

A city representative, identified in the hearing as Richard Shagley (partner at Wright Shagley), presented a request for the county to contribute $1.5 million from the county EDIT fund to complete a pedestrian trail connection between the Riley Trail and Ray Park. He said the total project cost for the bridge and connecting trail is $2.7 million and that the city remains committed to a $1.2 million share for the bridge; the city asked the county to finance the remaining $1.5 million so the two trail sections can be joined.

Shagley framed the request by explaining projected growth‑revenue impacts from Senate Enrolled Act 1, which reduced expected property‑tax and related local revenue growth. He said the city had expected $8–10 million growth over five years, which his refined analysis lowered to about $5 million. He argued the change reduces city capacity to fund both capital and public‑safety equipment needs over the next several years and that targeted county assistance on the trail would allow the city to reallocate city EDIT funds to pay down public‑safety leases and other operating costs.

Shagley described the broader economic context — a local labor force that is inbound for work, the effects of changes in business personal property and local income tax formulas — and said the proposal would help maintain planned economic‑development momentum while freeing city funds to reduce lease burdens. He asked the council to discuss using county EDIT to support the trail connection and said city staff will present additional detail to council and commissioners.

Ending: Council members asked for further discussion with county commissioners and staff; no formal vote or appropriation occurred during the hearing.