Budget Items Identified for Separate Discussion Copyrighted
April 13, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEM # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Budget Items Identified for Separate Discussion
SUMMARY: Discussion and possible direction regarding improvement
packages, cash reserves, and any related budgetary items
identified by a majority of the City Council for separate
discussion.
SUGGUESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Attorney Memo - Budget Hearing Process
Page 1129 of 1132
Dubuque
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CRENNA M. BRUMWELL, ESQ.
CITY ATTORNEY
TO: MAYOR BRAD M. CAVANAGH AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: FEBRUARY Z6, ZOZF)
RE: BUDGET HEARING REMINDERS
This is my annual budget process memo for the City Council. Sadly, there is no guidance
or rules related to how individual budget hearings are handled in the state code as our
process is unique and not specifically required by state law.
Previously, the City Attorneys for the largest cities in lowa and City Clerks were polled on
their processes. We asked if communities had a well-developed process for how items
should be set aside during the departmental presentations/hearings for
consideration/deletion/amendment at the final budget hearing. Attorneys' responding
historically have included those for:
• Des Moines
• West Des Moines
• lowa City
• Ames.
Unfortunately, none of the responding cities had a clearly outlined process for how
amendments are handled.
It appears other cities handle proposed changes like any other amendment by the Council
with a voice vote. If the amendment passes it becomes part of the roll call vote on the
budget, as amended, at the Final Budget Hearing.
The City Council has the ability to agree upon how requests for further consideration
(adding or deleting funding in the budget) will be handled. I have identified a few ways
this could occur, but there may be other options with a creative bunch such as yourselves.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY DUBUQUE, IOWA
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TE�EPHONE(563)589-4381 /Fax(563)583-1040/EMai�cbrumwel@cityofdubuque.org
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options
1) Single Member Holdover: If one (1) member wants an item held for further
discussion or consideration the item is held for discussion at the Final
Budget Hearing.
2) Single Member Ask, Majorit�grees, Final Budget Hearinq Consideration:
If one (1) member wants an item held for further discussion or consideration,
an informal poll of the Council occurs. If four (4) members agree the item
should be held the item is held for discussion at the Final Budqet Hearinq.
If there are not four (4) members in agreement to set the item aside for
further consideration the item isn't held over for further consideration.
3) Single Member Ask, Majorit r�Agrees, Budqet Hearing Consideration: If one
(1) member wants an item held for further discussion or consideration, an
informal poll of the Council occurs. If four (4) members agree the item
should be held the item is held for discussion at the end of the departmental
budget hearings for the eveninq*.
If there are not four (4) members in agreement to set the item aside for
further consideration the item isn't held over for further consideration.
*This would require adding an agenda item to each evening of departmental
budget hearings for consideration of items held for further discussion.
4) Item by Item Motion: Members could make motions at each of the hearings
for specific items to be added or deleted from a departmental budget. The
prevailing vote of the Council would govern.
Option #2 above is the process that has been used historically by the City Council.
Any items that are set aside for further consideration during the process need to be
discussed and resolved at, or prior to, the Final Budget Hearing prior to a vote on the
Final Budget. Any changes in departmental budgets to increase funding would require
an offset decreasing funding somewhere else within the budget.
State Proqram Information
The State does not allow the City to exceed the amount published in the public hearing
notice for planned expenditures in each of the nine program areas in the final adopted
budget. The nine program areas defined by the State for reporting purposes include:
• Public Safety
• Public Works
• Health and Social Services
• Culture and Recreation
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• Community and Economic Development
• General Government
• Debt Service
• Capital Projects
• Business Type
The City must assign its various cost centers to one of these programs based on reporting
guidelines prepared by the lowa Department of Management. In addition, the property
tax levy adopted must equal or be less than the property tax levy published in the notice
of public hearing. This is in accordance with the administrative rules which are intended
to implement lowa Code chapters 384 and 388.
Note: On the state programs areas, revising the budget recommendation if the expense
exceeds the state program amount published requires the budget changes to be included
in the first budget amendment of the new fiscal year.
Open Meetinqs Reminder
As a reminder entering budget season, the standard rules for City Council meetings apply
to budget work sessions and hearings. All discussions on agenda items should be public
i.e. no private exchanges in any electronic formats with each other, staff, or the public.
This maintains compliance with the open meetings law.
This is for informational purposes and if you have any questions, please reach out.
cc: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
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