La Center staff presents preliminary 2025 budget; public hearing opened and closed

City staff presented the preliminary draft 2025 budget on Oct. 23, outlining projected revenues, planned capital projects and proposed department budgets. Finance director Riley Barbera told council staff are budgeting conservatively and projecting roughly a $76,000 surplus for 2025 given current estimates and planned project spending.

Barbera reviewed general fund revenue, noting construction- and card-room-related taxes as important revenue sources and highlighting a stronger-than-expected September for gambling-tax receipts. Property-tax information was presented using preliminary county assessed-value data; Barbera reiterated the city receives a small portion of a typical property-tax bill (an illustrative example used by staff showed about 9 cents of every tax dollar going to the city).

Major capital projects and funds discussed include planned spending on the 4th Street/Breezy Creek construction (staff estimated roughly $4.5 million in next-year construction with about $4.2 million expected to be reimbursed by grants), vehicle and equipment purchases, park-impact-fee projects and continued sewer and stormwater work. Barbera said the city will begin a sewer-rate study and has reallocated some insurance and asset costs among enterprise funds.

Council opened a public hearing on the draft budget at 8:29 p.m. and closed it at 8:34 p.m. Speakers included residents who urged the council to perform due diligence, asked for more public notice and complained generally about growth and development. Staff reiterated there will be a revenue public hearing and property-tax-levy public hearing on Nov. 13 and a final budget adoption scheduled for Nov. 20.

No formal budget action was taken on Oct. 23; the council asked staff to return with the revenue public hearing and levy on Nov. 13 and the final budget for adoption on Nov. 20.