Residents push back on using maximum allowable tax rate; council cites HB9 and valuation losses

Several residents and commenters urged the council not to adopt the voter‑approval maximum and to instead show budgets at lower rates. A public commenter said, "The legal maximum should be a ceiling, not a target," and asked the council to show the public what the budget looks like at the no‑new‑revenue rate and at intermediate levels before any final vote.

Council members and staff responded that the city faces an unusual drop in taxable values (staff cited a 4.7% base decrease) and a $133 million assessed‑valuation loss tied to House Bill 9 that reduced available revenue; they said those shifts, plus the recent conversion of a hospital to nonprofit status and a large commercial departure, limit their ability to shave the proposed rate without cutting services. Council members emphasized protecting public safety and the city’s AAA bond rating while acknowledging affordability concerns for homeowners on fixed incomes.