3 7 24 City Council Proceedings Official SpecialCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on March 7, 2024, in the
second-floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th Street.
Present: Mayor Pro Tem Jones; Mayor Cavanagh (attended virtually); Council
Members Farber, Roussell, Sprank, Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen, City Attorney
Brumwell.
Absent: Council Member Resnick.
Mayor Pro Tem Jones read the call and stated this is a special session of the City
Council called for the purpose of setting a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year
2025 Tax Rate and Dollars.
ITEMS SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Set Public Hearing for Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Tax Rate and Dollars and Taxpayer
Statements: Motion by Sprank to receive and file the documents and adopt Resolution
No. 55-24 Setting a Public Hearing on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Tax Rate and
Dollars and Taxpayer Statements. Seconded by Wethal. City Manager Van Milligen made
a presentation on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 tax rate and dollars. Chief Financial
Officer Jennifer Larson provided clarification on the city’s reduction in taxable value due
to the state legislature changing the state military credit to an exemption, therefore
eliminating state funding toward it. Ms. Larson further clarified the two commercial and
industrial backfills, stating that the 90% backfill will be phased out and a new backfill will
be funded by the state. City Council Members thanked city staff for their work preparing
the budget, expressed frustration with the current budgeting process required by state
code, and stressed the increasing operational costs of city government. Responding to a
question from the City Council on budgeting for cybersecurity, City Manager Van Milligen
summarized multiple budget actions in support of cybersecurity, including allocating
around $600,000 to move the city’s Information Technology Department to a facility in the
West End; allocating $3,000,000 to replace all police, fire, and emergency
communications software systems; and adding a cybersecurity position to last year’s
budget. City Council Members indicated their support for the City Manager’s property tax
rate recommendation. Motion carried 6-0.
RESOLUTION NO. 55-24
SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 TAX RATE
AND DOLLARS AND TAXPAYER STATEMENTS
Whereas, pursuant to State of Iowa Section 24.2A (4)(a) as adopted by Iowa HF718,
the City of Dubuque is required to hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Fiscal
Year 2025 city tax rate and dollars and taxpayer statements; and
Whereas, the notice of hearing must be published not less than 10 days and not more
than 20 days prior to the date of the hearing; and
Whereas, at said hearing, the City Council is required to review the proposed tax notice
for the Fiscal Year 2025 Tax Rate and Dollars and Taxpayer Statements.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA THAT:
Section 1. The Dubuque City Council will conduct a public hearing on March 25, 2024,
at 6:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 350 W 6th St. and virtually.
Section 2. The Chief Financial Officer is hereby directed to prepare a Notice of Public
Hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year City Property Tax Levy with the required information
pursuant to Section 24.2A (4)(a) as adopted by Iowa HF718.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to publish the notice of public hearing
pursuant to Section 24.2A (4)(a) as adopted by Iowa HF718.
Passed, adopted and approved this 7th day of March 2024.
Ric W. Jones, Mayor Pro Tem
Attest: Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Pro Tem Jones declared the meeting
adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk