Des Moines releases FY2028 budget-savings calculator, asks residents to prioritize options to close $12 million gap
June 29, 2026 | Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
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The City of Des Moines released an online FY2028 budget savings calculator that asks residents, business owners and property taxpayers to select department-level cuts and revenue options to help close a $12 million projected budget shortfall, a presenter said.
The presenter said the exercise is intended to give city leadership a clearer sense of public priorities ‘‘when making the difficult decision of service cuts’’ and emphasized that public opinion ‘‘plays a crucial role in council’s decision.’’ The tool is aimed at people who live in, own a business in, or own property in Des Moines and requests the user’s ward information.
Users first complete an "about you" section indicating whether they are a resident, business owner or property taxpayer and may look up their ward using a linked "what ward am I in" address lookup. The interface prevents submission until a user has selected enough options to reach the $12 million target; the presenter explained selections must total the deficit before the form can be submitted.
The calculator organizes proposed solutions by department and updates a running total and a pie chart as users add options. The video notes that some reductions labeled "administrative changes" are already built into the $12 million total; those administrative items do not directly reduce public services but would affect the city's overall capacity.
Options highlighted in green are revenue sources that help offset the deficit; options in red are expenses that would support services but increase the deficit. The tool also includes slider controls under Fire and Police that let users model adding or removing positions; the presenter said every two positions added or removed adjusts the total by $300,000.
When a user's selections reach $12 million the graphic indicator turns green and the user may press "prepare submission form" to transfer their prior "about you" answers to a submission page, provide an email address, review selections, add comments and submit them to the city. The video concludes by thanking viewers for contributing perspectives intended to guide budget decision-making.
The video is instructional and does not itself change budgets; it presents options for public feedback that city leadership may consider as part of fiscal-year 2028 planning.
The presenter said the exercise is intended to give city leadership a clearer sense of public priorities ‘‘when making the difficult decision of service cuts’’ and emphasized that public opinion ‘‘plays a crucial role in council’s decision.’’ The tool is aimed at people who live in, own a business in, or own property in Des Moines and requests the user’s ward information.
Users first complete an "about you" section indicating whether they are a resident, business owner or property taxpayer and may look up their ward using a linked "what ward am I in" address lookup. The interface prevents submission until a user has selected enough options to reach the $12 million target; the presenter explained selections must total the deficit before the form can be submitted.
The calculator organizes proposed solutions by department and updates a running total and a pie chart as users add options. The video notes that some reductions labeled "administrative changes" are already built into the $12 million total; those administrative items do not directly reduce public services but would affect the city's overall capacity.
Options highlighted in green are revenue sources that help offset the deficit; options in red are expenses that would support services but increase the deficit. The tool also includes slider controls under Fire and Police that let users model adding or removing positions; the presenter said every two positions added or removed adjusts the total by $300,000.
When a user's selections reach $12 million the graphic indicator turns green and the user may press "prepare submission form" to transfer their prior "about you" answers to a submission page, provide an email address, review selections, add comments and submit them to the city. The video concludes by thanking viewers for contributing perspectives intended to guide budget decision-making.
The video is instructional and does not itself change budgets; it presents options for public feedback that city leadership may consider as part of fiscal-year 2028 planning.
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