Committee approves 2025–26 budget items and opts for 'pink postcard' property-tax notification under LB34 rules

The Columbus City Committee of the Whole on Aug. 5 advanced multiple budget items for fiscal 2025–26 and voted to set a property-tax ask under the notification option commonly called the “pink postcard,” a move staff said protects the city’s revenue base amid state law changes limiting property-tax growth.

Finance Director Heather Lindsley presented the budget documents at a public hearing that included a redline fee schedule, a pay plan with a citywide 2% cost-of-living adjustment, a capital improvement plan (CIP) and a multi-year operating budget. Lindsley said projected sales-tax revenue for the next year is roughly $10.4 million and that the city’s budget assumes a conservative $10.0 million in sales-tax-supported revenue for planning.

After staff discussion and public comment, the committee voted to approve the fee schedule, adopt the pay plan, approve the capital improvement plan and adopt the 2025–26 operating budget as presented. The committee also voted to set a property-tax asking of $7,562,660.83 and to participate in a joint public hearing with the county on Sept. 18, 2025 — the procedural step Lindsley and staff described as the prudent choice under recent property-tax law changes.

Why the prop…