WBV

Call to Order by Chairwoman Hill.
Pledge of Allegiance (Councilman Harvey).
Invocation (delayed start).
Chair passed to Budget Chair Dotley for public hearing on FY25–26 budget and property tax proposals.

Competing proposals:
- Mayor Kelly: Property tax $1.93 per $100 → maintains inflation-adjusted revenue, funds fire, police, paving, stormwater, 311, youth violence prevention.
- Henderson/Davis Alternate: $1.69 per $100 → +$15M new revenue, +$5M from prior allocation, +$3M cuts = ~$23M to police ($9M) & fire ($14M).

Public Comments:

Support Kelly ($1.93):
- Police & fire officers: unsafe vehicles, delayed response, flooding, storm calls, need competitive pay.
- Union reps/SEIU: protects wages & partnerships with nonprofits.
- Equity advocates: cuts would disproportionately hit Black & brown neighborhoods.
- Mayor Kelly: called it “Budweiser budget, not champagne,” ~$1/day median household impact.
Support Henderson/Davis ($1.69):
- Seniors & ALICE households: fixed incomes, rising assessments, unaffordable bills.
- Calls for restraint, transparency, and earlier budget engagement.
- Some sought compromise rates ($1.70–$1.73).
- Faith leaders: warned against “oppressive decrees.”

Themes: housing affordability, transparency, distrust of late-breaking equipment needs, need for better process in future.

Councilman Henderson: defended compromise path from $1.67 → $1.69, pledged to add Station 1 funding if needed.
Budget Chair Dotley: pushed back on claims she misled re: cuts; stressed $1.93 is middle ground between $1.55 certified & $2.25 current.
Tense exchanges between Henderson & Dotley clarified expectations on finding cuts.

Amendment Votes:

Henderson motion → replace $1.93 with $1.69 (alternate).
Harvey amendment → adjust to $1.73 & earmark +$438k for Station 21 ladder truck & crew.
- PASSED 7–2 (Dotley & Null opposed).
Vote on $1.73 alternate (as amended): FAILED 5–4 (yes: Henderson, Davis, Harvey, Hill; no: Clark, Bur, Dotley, Elliott, Null).
Vote on Mayor’s $1.93 plan: PASSED 5–4 (yes: Elliott, Dotley, Bur, Clark, Null; no: Harvey, Davis, Henderson, Hill).

Final Readings:
- Sewer easement closures (Mercer St, Luptonville Crossing, Palmetto St) — PASSED.
Operating Budget Amendment (Ord. 14239): Adopted Mayor Kelly’s $1.93 millage (see above).
Capital Budget Amendment (Ord. 14240): +$13.35M appropriated — PASSED 8–1.

Community Development: Apply for $20k Senior Center Services grant — PASSED.
Appointment: Jonathan Mason → Health, Educational & Housing Facility Board (District 4) through 2031 — PASSED.
Parks & Outdoors: Apply for $2M BlueCross Healthy Places grant (Pavilion Park) — PASSED.
Public Works: Carver Center gym floor replacement ($132k) & Watkins Bldg mold abatement ($104k) — PASSED.
Police: Apply for Homeland Security grant → $33k to CPD for equipment — PASSED.

Jade Maholski: Opposed tax hike, citing ALICE households post-flood; urged support for UAW resolution.
John: Called for zoning reform to support infill, noted tax base sustainability.
Rev. Anne Jones Pierre (NAACP): Criticized lack of continuous budget monitoring; promoted Oct. 30 Ruby Hurley Gala w/ Ruben Studdard.
Andrew Jones: Called for transparency; urged real-time online tracking of budget transactions.
Lonnie Bell (“Homeless Journalist”): Criticized media & court system; played audio alleging mail tampering at Salvation Army.
Blake Ray (District 9): Thanked councilmembers opposing $1.93; urged better communication from mayor’s office.
Sandra Yala: Spoke for single parents; warned tax increase burdens struggling families; urged better scrutiny of spending.

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