Waukee City Council To Act On Budget For FY 2022

Waukee IA

13 March, 2021

2:19 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Waukee: March 12, 2021 The Waukee City Council will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on Monday, March 15 at 5:30 p.m. to review and approve the City's proposed budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2022. The online meeting will be accessible to the public via Zoom; the meeting ID is 352-651-371. Those wishing to phone in can call 646-558-8656, 312-626-6799 or 301-715-8592. The proposed budget is a reflection of the Waukee Mayor and City Council's Vision and Priorities and serves as the major policymaking tool of the organization. The proposed budget maintains the existing property tax levy at $13.30 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. The City's portion accounts for approximately 37 percent of Waukee property owners' consolidated levy rate. "The City continues to invest in infrastructure, public safety, and enrichment amenities and programs," said Waukee Mayor Courtney Clarke. "Delivering on the promise of a good quality of life in Waukee remains the focus of our strategic planning and budgeting processes. We're pleased to be able to do that without increases to the property tax rate, and we are eager to move the community forward in this new year." The budget for the City of Waukee is comprised of basic operating expenditures totaling approximately $16.3 million, business/proprietary expenses of $28.7 million, debt service expenditures of $14.5 million, capital improvement expenditures of $45.1 million and $17.6 million in other expenses, with all totaling $122.2 million. Highlights of the $45.1 million Capital Improvement Plan include: The second round of street construction near the future Northwest High School and Triumph Park, which features the ongoing widening of NW 10th Street, continued construction of NW Sunrise Drive and construction of NW 2nd Street. Warrior Lane improvements, transitioning the five-way stop intersection to a four-leg roundabout to improve traffic flow and safety. Widening SE Ashworth Road at Grand Prairie Parkway and adding new traffic signals. Adding turn lanes and traffic signals at the Ashworth Road and Ute Avenue intersection. Two Douglas Parkway extensions: two lanes from NE Badger Lane to N. Warrior Lane and two lanes from NW 2nd Street to NW 10th Street. Continued construction of Triumph Park, the City's 66-acre regional park and sports complex. The City of Waukee currently has 120 full-time staff positions. The FY 2022 staffing plan includes the addition of three new full-time public safety positions, one full-time Building Inspector, one full-time Traffic Signal Technician, one full-time IT Help Desk position and more. Public safety improvements and efficiency of City services are of high importance to the Waukee Mayor and City Council. The City Council will vote on proposed utility rate adjustments. If approved, the water rate would increase by 2.75 percent, and the irrigation rate would increase by $1 to $2 on top of the domestic water rate. Sewer utility rates will increase by 1 percent. Stormwater utility and natural gas rates are proposed to stay the same. The City is proposing a $0.50 decrease to the monthly solid waste charge. If approved, there will be a $1.22 (1.01 percent) monthly billing increase for the average Waukee household. This minimal increase will help keep up with increased operation and system costs. Both the proposed budget and the Capital Improvement Plan are reviewed extensively each year by the Waukee City Council in open work sessions. See meeting agenda here. This press release was produced by the City of Waukee. The views expressed here are the author's own.