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Council deadlocks on motion to reconsider removal of levy renewal from May ballot
Summary
A motion to reconsider a council vote that removed a renewal levy (about $384,000/year) from the May 6 ballot failed after a lengthy debate about whether to respect prior public 'no' votes or seek another public vote. The procedural vote to allow reconsideration did not pass (2–4).
Councilmember Elely moved to reconsider a prior council vote that removed a renewal levy from the May 6 ballot, triggering an extended debate about honoring voters’ previous rejection versus the city’s projected budget shortfall.
Elely said she had heard residents in her ward and wanted the council to allow another vote; she framed reconsideration as following the people’s wishes to have the discussion. Other council members pushed back, saying that voters had already said no and that replaying votes risks undermining public trust. The mayor and other supporters of placing the renewal on the ballot said the levy represents about $384,000 annually for general operations and that failure to renew would require cuts to services or future, costlier ballot efforts.
Council discussed options and consequences, including running the renewal again in November (which would be based on updated property valuations and likely raise more revenue per millage but would also change the millage math) and the need for concise messaging to persuade voters. One councilor emphasized that if the administration cannot make the case in short, clear messaging, it will not sway voters.
The motion to allow reconsideration of the removal vote failed on a roll call: Godwin no, Norris no, Rogers no, White yes, Brown no, Elely yes. Because the motion did not receive majority concurrence, the earlier decision to remove the levy from the May 6 ballot stands.
