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Council weighs a limited-term public-safety levy to shore up rising contract costs and preserve services
Summary
Deputy Mayor presented a draft levy proposal focused on public-safety costs, including 9-1-1 dispatch, jail and contract increases and a mobile crisis contract; councilmembers asked for clearer line-item framing and called for a modest, time-limited measure with specific outcomes to improve voter clarity.
Deputy Mayor Fertani led council discussion on a proposed property-tax levy to stabilize the city—9s finances in light of rising public-safety and contracted costs.
Deputy Mayor Fertani opened the agenda item by explaining edits to an earlier proposal: the updated text narrowed the request to public safety by replacing a public-works ask with a mental-health mobile crisis response contract (the RACER fee). Fertani told the council the RACER fee had an annual cost “roughly to the tune of a $122,269.”
Councilmembers and staff discussed whether the levy should be framed as a narrowly targeted public-safety levy (specific line items that voters can see will be funded) or as a more general revenue measure. Councilmember Goldman urged clarity in messaging: “making it clear to the community, if the levy passes, this is what the city gets from it. If the levy doesn't pass, here's where we'll be with the status quo.” Several councilmembers said a shorter, limited-term levy (one councilmember…
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