Budget office to refine taxpayer impact statement; Governance Committee continues item for further review
Summary
Council asked staff to refine the proposed taxpayer impact statement and consider whether to codify publication; the Governance Committee continued the CCR to its next meeting so staff can return with a draft and options for codifying the statement versus incorporating it into annual financial policies.
A proposal to publish an annual taxpayer impact statement summarizing property tax and fee changes was continued by the Governance Committee so staff could return with a draft format and legal/operational options for adoption.
The CCR, filed by Councilmember Mark White, asks the city to develop and publish an annual statement showing property tax comparisons, fee and utility comparisons and any changes contained in the proposed and adopted budgets. Staff presented an initial statement format and said the budget office would include the impact statement as part of the annual budget document and coordinate with CPS and SAWS to obtain utility fee information. Staff noted they will provide the statement as part of the budget highlights and promote it via public hearings and council meetings.
Council members discussed whether the policy should be memorialized via a resolution or ordinance or be reflected in the budget process and financial policies. Some members urged the city publish the statement in a local newspaper as well as online to increase accessibility for residents who do not use the web. The committee voted to continue the item and directed staff to return with a draft statement, options for codifying it (financial policy vs. ordinance/resolution) and a recommended publication plan.
