Corinth council holds budget hearing, postpones final vote to Sept. 18 after residents urge tax restraint

Leanne Bunzelmeyer, the city's director of finance, presented the proposed fiscal year budget and answered council questions during a public hearing opened by Mayor Bill Heidemann.

Bunzelmeyer told the council that state House Bill 9 and changes to school resource officer contracts had reduced expected revenues, and that staff proposed a city manager's recommended tax rate of 0.53709. "As the city manager mentioned, tonight we'll be doing the public hearing on the budget," Bunzelmeyer said, outlining projected revenues of about $27,500,000 and noting that property taxes make up roughly 52.8% of general fund revenues.

The presentation detailed several revenue and expenditure drivers: an estimated $300,000+ revenue loss tied to changes from House Bill 9, an expected roughly $400,000 decrease related to senior exemptions, elimination of some school SRO reimbursements (forcing the city to absorb costs for three officers), a proposed 3% COLA and rising health insurance costs, $2.5 million in one‑time facility needs, and a proposed $3.7 million capital improvement program funded without new debt. Bunzelmeyer said the city's fund balance was projected at about $7.6 million (25.6% of budgeted expenditures), above the policy target of 20%.

Residents speaking during the hearing urged caution on tax increases. Kimberly Couch, a Corinth resident, told the council development patterns and rising taxes were pushing homeowners out and said the city had not delivered amenities residents expect. "It is not acceptable for you to request the dwindling number of homeowners to pay an additional 9% or even 1% towards the city property tax rate," Couch said. Another resident, Nick Cochran, said the proposed maximum rate would represent "a 19.1% increase on what my property taxes would be for the city portion" and called that level "unsustainable."

After questions and public comment, a council member moved to postpone final action on the budget to the Sept. 18, 2025 council meeting. The motion to table and bring the item back on that date was seconded and passed unanimously.

The postponement leaves the budget schedule intact for a final vote at the September meeting and gives staff additional time to respond to public concerns about tax impacts and revenue assumptions.