Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council sets proposed 3.9 millage, hears plan for higher fire and solid-waste assessments
Summary
Finance staff presented the FY2025 budget framework: maintain the town's millage at 3.9, propose increases to the fire protection assessment (about $34.51 per residential unit) and the solid-waste assessment (average increase ~$83.16 per parcel), and recommended applying a one-time subsidy to limit direct impacts on residents.
The Town Council set the proposed operating millage at 3.9 and reviewed proposed increases to the town's fire-protection and solid-waste assessments as part of the FY2024–25 budget process.
Finance director Emil presented the budget items, which include keeping the millage rate unchanged while increasing the fire assessment by approximately $34.51 per dwelling unit (a roughly 5% increase in the example shown) and raising solid-waste charges with an average per-parcel increase shown as $83.16. Emil outlined capital priorities including a $2.2 million estimate for South Southwest Meadows Sanctuary Park phase 1 (with 57% ARPA funding, 9% grants and a 34% general-fund contribution), an expanded program of invasive-species removal, and planned surface and drainage rehabilitation projects.
Council members discussed available subsidies and reserves. Members proposed and agreed to consider applying a roughly $502,000 subsidy previously used to stabilize prior years' assessments to cushion the proposed increases; council directed staff to include options for allocation during the budget workshop. The council set dates for the budget workshop (Aug. 13) and public hearings (Sept. 12 and Sept. 26) and voted to transmit the preliminary resolutions for the millage and special assessments.
Public commenters questioned details about the CPI adjustment included in a waste-management contract and whether the town is recycling more or less than last year; staff explained a true-up process reconciles estimated tonnages against actual annual generation and noted recycling tonnage came in below projections this year, contributing to a higher net cost.
