Green City Council adopts $45.1 million 2025 budget, approves multiple measures including parks smoking ban

The Green City Council on Tuesday adopted a $45,133,537 operating budget for 2025 and approved a series of resolutions and ordinances addressing tax-collection contracts, tax-increment financing, public-safety grants and local land-use changes.

The budget — presented by Finance Committee Chair Mister Neugebauer — represents a 5% increase over the initial 2024 budget and a 1.6% rise over the amended 2024 total. Neugebauer said the FY2025 figure assumes a 3% salary increase and an average 5% increase in health-care costs for employees. Council adopted the amended Resolution 2024-R71 by roll call, 7-0.

Why it matters: the appropriation sets the spending limits for the city’s general and special funds and funds planned projects and services for the year ahead.

In the same meeting, council voted to:

- Adopt Resolution 2024-R68 to renew three-year contracts with outside tax-collection firms for income-tax collection services (adopted 7-0). - Adopt Resolution 2024-R69 accepting Tax Incentive Review Council recommendations for two community reinvestment area (CRA) agreements and 52 TIF agreements; the report estimates the TIF portfolio could generate about $4.1 million annually and net roughly $1.8 million to the city after required payments (adopted 7-0). - Adopt Resolution 2024-R74 authorizing a cooperative agreement with Green Local School District to build a joint bus garage and storage facility at the former Koechner site; the city’s portion was placed in the capital budget at $1,600,000 and the agreement includes reciprocal $1-per-year leases for portions of the facility (adopted 7-0). - Adopt Ordinance 2024-13 as amended to revise smoking rules in city buildings, vehicles and parks to address smoking, smokeless tobacco and vaping (adopted 7-0). - Adopt Resolution 2024-R77 to apply for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for approximately 75 hose lengths and 32 nozzles (total request ~ $62,175; 90% federal / 10% city share); council bypassed the three-reading rule because of the grant deadline and adopted the resolution. - Adopt Ordinance 2024-12A vacating a right-of-way along Maslin Road (near Conrad’s Tire and Sergeant Clean Car Wash); the ordinance passed 5-2 after committee discussion. - Confirm mayoral appointments to multiple boards and commissions (roll call confirmation).

Council also agreed not to request a state hearing for a liquor-license transfer (TMP 4816) after the sheriff’s office reported no objections.

Public comment and community notes

Pat Karloski, a resident who spoke during the public-comment period, praised the parks department’s senior luncheon and urged caution when siting public artwork in roundabouts for safety reasons. "Please don't put up anything in the center of roundabouts that obstructs the vision," Karloski said, adding the concern was driven by limited sight lines for shorter drivers and older residents.

Tom Weiss of the SCIPPER Group voiced support for a first reading of a zoning-text amendment for the I-2 district and said he would return with more detailed comments in January.

Mayor Rocco Yergan reported community successes and events, and said the adaptive baseball-field project — “which approximates about $1,200,000” — is fully funded by outside sources. "That entire project is entirely paid for by outside funds," the mayor said, thanking staff and grant partners.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2024-R71 (2025 operating appropriations): Adopted, 7-0. - Resolution 2024-R68 (tax-collection contracts): Adopted, 7-0. - Resolution 2024-R69 (TIF/CRA acceptance): Adopted, 7-0. - Resolution 2024-R74 (joint bus garage lease/agreement): Adopted, 7-0. - Ordinance 2024-13 (smoking and vaping in parks/buildings): Adopted as amended, 7-0. - Ordinance 2024-12A (vacating Conway Drive right-of-way / Maslin Road area): Adopted as amended, 5-2. - Resolution 2024-R77 (Assistance to Firefighters Grant application): Adopted (three-reading bypass approved; application authority granted). - TMP 4816 (liquor-license transfer): No hearing requested; motion carried. - Mayoral board/commission appointments: Confirmed by roll call.

What’s next

The council set a public hearing for Resolution 2024-R75 (street-lighting district for Stoney Creek Estates Phase 4) on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. Council will not hold a meeting on Dec. 24; a special council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 5 p.m., and regular meetings resume Jan. 14.

(Reporting from the Green City Council meeting; quotes and attributions come from speakers recorded in the meeting transcript.)