Committee of the Whole Meeting

MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall, 220 Clay Street February 17, 2025 The meeting of the Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 5:45 p.m. on February 17, 2025, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Daniel Laudick, Councilmembers Gil Schultz, Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse, Aaron Hawbaker, Dustin Ganfield, Hannah Crisman, and Kelly Dunn. Staff members from all City Departments, a representative from the Waterloo Courier, and members of the community attended in person. Committee of the Whole: Mayor Laudick called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the Committee of the Whole Agenda, FY2026 Budget Presentation. Jennifer Rodenbeck, Director of Finance & Business Operations, provided an overview of the budget process and timeline for Fiscal Year 2026; provided information regarding the changes created from the Iowa legislature, specifically HF718 and other challenges; explained the letters to taxpayers sent by the County; phaseout of the backfill and “backfill 2.0”; homestead and military credit expansion; staff wages and benefits; and incorporated projects outlined in the CIP. Director Rodenbeck presented a recommendation for Council to adopt a maximum tax levy of $12.50. The FY25 tax levy was $11.86, meaning the proposed max tax levy for FY26 is $.64 more than FY25. Director Rodenbeck advised Councilmembers that the tax levy rate recommended and potentially approved tonight at the Regular City Council meeting can always be lowered after future deliberation but will not be able to be increased beyond what is approved at this time. Councilmember Kruse asked about changes to EMA financing for FY26 and FY27 and future consolidation and the potential to utilize funds only in 2026. Mayor Laudick and Director Rodenbeck responded regarding the financial impact. A motion was made by Kruse and seconded by Crisman to recommend to City Council to set the FY26 proposed tax levy rate at $12.50 and to hold the special public hearing on April 7, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. The Mayor called for a voice vote on the motion – Aye: Schultz, Latta, Kruse, Hawbaker, Ganfield, Crisman, and Dunn; Nay: none. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Supervisor