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Council questions $40,000 proposed reduction to EDA levy
Summary
Staff proposed a $40,000 reduction to the Economic Development Authority levy to help meet a 6% levy target; council members raised concerns about future development needs and asked staff to consult the EDA before final decisions.
City staff suggested reducing the EDA levy by $40,000 (roughly from $201,000 to $161,000) as one path to meet the 6% levy target. Finance Director Dan Winnick explained the proposal and said the EDA’s fund balance and cash have increased since 2023, which makes the reduction feasible as a one-time option. “The EDA levy would go from almost 201,000 to a 161,000,” Winnick said when outlining the proposal.
Multiple council members pushed back, saying a $40,000 reduction could limit the EDA’s ability to pursue economic development, beautification and opportunistic property purchases. One council member said, “I like to challenge the $40,000 cut from the EDA and what the EDA has what their goals are and what their plans are,” and urged staff to confirm EDA plans before finalizing any reduction. Staff and council agreed the reduction should be revisited annually and presented to the EDA for comment; the council directed staff to seek a shared approach to hitting the 6% goal rather than relying solely on the EDA cut.
