The Waukee City Council will hold a public hearing at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 7, to review and approve the City’s proposed budget for FY 2017. The proposed budget is a reflection of the Waukee Mayor and City Council’s Vision and Priorities and serves as the major policymaking tool of the organization.
The FY 2017 fiscal budget for the City of Waukee is comprised of basic operating expenditures totaling approximately $17 million, business/proprietary expenses of $19.5 million, debt service expenditures of $6.99 million and capital improvement expenditures of $11.65 million. The full budget totals nearly $55.19 million.
The FY 2017 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) includes the following:
-Construction will begin on major road projects including Phase One of the Alice’s Road widening from two to six lanes (between SE University Avenue and SE Olson Drive), the Douglas Parkway extension from Alice’s Road to Westgate Drive, the Westown Parkway extension from L.A. Grant Parkway to R22, and paving a four-lane section with turning lanes between Parkview Crossing Drive and Grand Prairie Parkway.
-As Waukee has outgrown its existing sewer treatment plant, the City has committed to connect its system to the Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) no later than January 1, 2019. Work on the project is slated to begin in summer 2017 and is expected to wrap-up in fall 2018. This is a more cost-effective alternative to building a new City sewer treatment facility.
-Initial development of Fox Creek Park in northern Waukee will begin, including grading, seeding and trail work. This phase of the project will allow for easy pedestrian connectivity to the new Grant Ragan Elementary.
-Annual improvements to the City’s water system as well as gas main service and rehabilitation costs are also included in the CIP.
The City currently has 85 full-time positions, which on a per-1,000-residents scale is low for the metro area. Four new full-time positions are recommended to increase efficiency and meet public demand for services, including two police sergeants (one for patrol and one for investigations), one firefighter/paramedic and one code compliance officer. Public safety improvement is one of the Council’s highest priorities.
The Waukee City Council is expected to approve maintaining the property tax levy for residents at $13.50 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. The tax rate has held steady at $13.50 since FY 2001.
In order to keep the property taxes at this rate while still serving the needs of the growing community, the Council will also vote on proposed utility rate increases. If approved, minor increases in solid waste, stormwater and sewer rates will equal a $5.76 monthly billing increase for the average Waukee household. The increase in utility fees will make it possible to pay for continued stormwater system improvements as well as the necessary sewer connection to the WRA. Green-minded residents may be interested to know that the City will also begin weekly curbside recycling in July, a change from the current biweekly schedule.
Both the proposed budget and Capital Improvements Plan are reviewed extensively each year by the Waukee City Council during open work sessions.