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Residents press Garden City for clearer messaging and help applying for exemptions
Summary
Multiple residents and community group leaders urged clearer communication about exemptions (homestead, Stevens Day, school board) and easier outreach to seniors; staff and council offered one-on-one help and suggested mailing notices and leveraging churches.
Residents used the hearing to press officials for clearer wording and better outreach to seniors and other residents who do not use social media or the city website. Multiple speakers pointed to homestead, Stevens Day and school board exemptions as key to reducing individual tax burdens.
"There are several exemptions that different people can qualify for... If you own your house by the 1st of the year, you're good," said Don Bethune (S10) during public comment, urging residents to apply and noting he had helped seniors secure exemptions.
Donna Williams (S9), speaking for a local community group, said the way the city framed the change as a "savings" from fire protection could sound misleading to residents who believe they should not have been charged the fire fee in the first place. She urged different wording and more transparency. Council members and staff responded that they would increase outreach, consider utility-bill inserts and make use of faith-leader networks and a quarterly newsletter to reach seniors and non-internet users.
Staff also offered individualized calculations for anyone who signs the notepad at the front of the room so they can see the exact change to their bill.
