Council rejects motion to withdraw 3.8‑mill renewal levy from May ballot

Councilmember White moved to withdraw the 3.8‑mill renewal tax levy from the May 6 ballot, saying the administration had presented the 2025 budget as healthy and that removing the levy would ease financial pressure on residents on fixed incomes.

White framed the motion as a test of the council's credibility. "Do we have any Integrity? Do we have any credibility and are we Hypocrites?" he said, urging members to consider optics and whether the renewal was truly needed after the council approved the budget.

Opponents argued the levy had already been presented to voters and that prior public votes should stand. Councilmember Godwin, Councilmember Norris and Councilmember Rogers voted against the motion; White voted in favor. The motion failed on a recorded vote: Godwin — no; Norris — no; Rogers — no; White — yes. A second was not recorded in the meeting video or minutes.

Background: the levy is a 3.8‑mill renewal the council had placed on the May 6, 2025 ballot after it failed in November 2024. During the meeting a councilmember said he believed the levy was meant to yield about $384,000 to the general fund; the city did not provide a different figure on the record during debate.

Context and next steps: the motion to remove the levy was a nonbinding procedural action to alter the ballot placement; because the motion failed the levy remains scheduled for May 6. Council did not take further action on the levy during this meeting.

The meeting also included procedural housekeeping and first readings of budget‑timing resolutions; the council adjourned after approving excused absences.