Cedar Falls committee backs mayor—s recommended FY26 levy of $12.20; budget trims, reallocations proposed

The Cedar Falls Committee of the Whole on Monday discussed the mayor—s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and voted to recommend a levy rate of $12.20 per $1,000 of assessed value for City Council consideration at a special April 7 meeting.

The recommendation, described by the mayor as an attempt to balance core service commitments and community investments while limiting the tax-rate increase, would lower the previously advertised maximum levy. Mayor (unnamed in the transcript) told the committee the changes would bring the city—s residential levy impact closer to inflation, estimating the preferred package would raise the median homeowner—s annual city tax bill by about $73 (from about $1,387 to $1,458) versus roughly $41 under a 3% consumer price index increase.

Committee members said the proposal is intended to hold down rate pressure while funding items the city has already committed to and a small set of capital needs. The mayor presented a package of recommended edits that included removing a $300,000 general-fund capital allocation (leaving $200,000 funded from hotel/motel tax), transferring $1,000,000 from a maturing economic-development tax increment program to capital projects, and using the full Emergency Management Agency (EMA)…