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Pawnee City seeks $53,000 CDBG planning grant to update comprehensive plan; council sets budget timeline
Summary
At its Aug. 25 meeting, the Pawnee City Council opened and closed a public hearing and approved a resolution to apply for a $53,000 CDBG planning grant (with a $10,000 city match) to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan; the council also reviewed a preliminary 2025–26 budget and certified valuation.
Pawnee City officials on Aug. 25 opened a public hearing and authorized the mayor to sign a $53,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning application to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
Brittany McCullough of the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) explained the grant would fund an update to the city’s planning document, which covers infrastructure, housing, streets and community resources; the current plan was written in 2016 and expires in 2026. The city would provide a $10,000 local match if awarded the grant. Following the presentation, Council Member Susan Eisenhauer moved to approve Resolution #12 authorizing the chief elected official to sign the application; Council Member Vickie Zelenka seconded and a roll-call vote showed all present in favor.
City Auditor Julie Bauman presented a preliminary budget draft and the county-assessed valuation report showing a total valuation of $43,812,263, an increase of about $7 million from the prior year. Bauman said the city’s property tax requirement for 2025–26 is $236,127.14, and that the city’s cash reserves are approximately 18% (the State allows up to 45%). She said the overall budget decreased about 3% to $3,964,791.08 and that she will return to the Sept. 8 council meeting with a final budget and the special public hearing to set the final tax request.
Why it matters: Many grant programs require a current comprehensive plan; updating the plan will help preserve the city’s eligibility for grants that fund infrastructure and housing projects. The budget timeline means council will consider a final tax request and adopt the budget in early September.
What happens next: The council authorized the application and will review the final budget at the next meeting; staff will submit the CDBG application and pursue the local match if the grant is awarded.
