Des Moines council seeks earlier budget priority discussions after timeline briefing

Nick Shaw, finance director, presented the city’s budget calendar and key dates for the council’s 2026 fiscal process. He outlined deadlines for issuing the city manager’s recommended budget (early February), scheduling preliminary workshops, setting the required property‑tax hearings and submitting final documents to the county and state in April.

Council members asked staff to return with an adjusted outreach plan that adds opportunities for earlier, priority‑focused public engagement. Several council members said December public meetings should be used not only for a 101 overview but to solicit input on high‑level tradeoffs — for example, whether to prioritize additional fire‑station investments or other services — before staff finalize detailed numbers. One council member urged staff to present options showing how major choices (service level impacts versus tax increases) would affect core services.

Shaw said final valuation numbers from the county typically arrive in January; staff already work on salary and major‑expense forecasts beginning in July. He and city manager staff agreed to return with an updated schedule that would give council time to review priority options before public meetings and to shape outreach materials for ward sessions planned in December and subsequent months.

The budget discussion also included references to the council’s recent transit funding decisions and how those commitments affect other service priorities, including fire‑station staffing and response times. Council members asked staff to present tradeoffs and options in December so the public can weigh in on major choices ahead of the formal hearings.

Ending: Staff agreed to return with an updated schedule and with materials designed to capture public priorities and tradeoffs; the council directed staff to propose specific meeting formats and timing for December and early‑year workshops.