Residents say animal-control strain and lack of visible results undermine trust ahead of tax decision

Chad McDuffie, who identified himself during public comment, told the council that if officials pursue a tax increase citizens must see clear improvements in services.

"There has to be visible change for the citizens if we're gonna do it," McDuffie said, arguing that animal-control complaints and roaming animals are among the most visible problems residents notice. He reported frequent encounters with skunks and other animals and pointed to overtime and capacity constraints in the animal-control line as evidence that more resources are needed.

Other residents and council members discussed staffing levels and the difficulty of demonstrating improvements quickly if the council approves larger budgets. Staff and council members acknowledged constraints including available cash versus budgeted amounts and noted municipal procedures such as municipal-court referral and liens for unpaid remediation fees.

The council did not take a formal vote; the public hearing continued and the council will consider public feedback as it finalizes budget decisions.