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Council hears overview of proposed public safety levy; $5.02 million target, $20.11 estimated per $100,000
Summary
City staff outlined a possible ballot levy under Idaho Code 63-8021(g) that would raise about $5.018 million annually to fund firefighters, higher police wages and a municipal prosecution unit; the presentation was informational and no council action was taken.
The Meridian City Council on June 10 received an informational presentation on a possible public safety property tax levy that, if placed on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot and approved by voters, would increase the city's property-tax revenue budget by about $5,018,125.71 annually.
City legal and finance staff told the council the levy would fall under Idaho Code section 63-8021(g), a provision that applies only to qualifying "low property tax" cities and requires a 60% voter approval threshold (rather than the 66 2/3% threshold in other provisions). The presenters said Meridian's current levy rate is roughly 0.002 and qualifies the city for subsection (g).
Under the draft proposal shown to the council, the levy proceeds would fund three main items: retain 13 firefighter positions after federal SAFER grant funding expires; increase police wages to aid recruitment and retention; and create a prosecution unit that would replace the city's current contract with Boise for prosecution services. Staff described the total number as $5,018,125.71 and said the estimated average annual cost to taxpayers would be "a tax of $20.11 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year, based on current conditions." Staff also outlined an estimated allocation: about $2.3 million for fire, $2.1 million for police and roughly $498,000 for prosecution services.
City attorneys and finance staff described state disclosure requirements that must appear on the ballot and in mass communications, including required plain-language statements of purpose, amount and the specific statutory phrasing that shows the estimated taxpayer cost. Staff emphasized that municipal communications about a ballot measure must include those disclosures and that the Public Integrity and Elections Act (Idaho Code Title 74) forbids use of public funds or public property to advocate for or against the measure.
Staff noted the statutory deadline to submit a proposed ballot measure to the county clerk for the Nov. 4 general election: Oct. 29 is the last published date, but staff recommended submitting earlier (two to three weeks ahead) to allow corrections.
Council members asked for additional detail on the calculations and the levy—s impacts (for example, an updated pro forma levy rate and comparison with nearby jurisdictions). Staff said finance staff would provide a breakdown of the components and a chart comparing Meridian's levy rate to neighboring cities; staff also said they would return with answers about how assessed-value changes would affect the $20.11 estimate. Several council members requested a staffing and implementation plan for the proposed prosecution unit if the measure proceeds. No formal vote or direction to place the levy on the ballot occurred; staff said the presentation was an initial informational step and that additional council discussion and public hearings would follow if the council elects to proceed.
