FY25 Proposed Budget

activities are expected to increase as a result of the newly created Equity and Human Rights Engagement Specialist that was approved in Fiscal Year 2024. Commitments to social justice, racial equity, and human rights are demonstrated in various department budgets in ways such as topical programming in Parks and Recreation, the Iowa City Public Library and the Senior Center. Other value-aligned examples throughout the budget include funding for non-profit crisis response services, free fare transit, annual ADA improvement projects, and expanding translation of important materials. Climate Action: With the State of Iowa’s elimination of the Emergency Property Tax Levy, this budget fully incorporates all Climate Action activities in the General Fund. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes funding for a variety of programs that aim to help the City achieve our Climate Action and Adaptation goals. Over $400,000 is included for programs including residential energy efficiency grants, Root for Trees vouchers, HERS grants to homebuilders, community climate action grants and multiple supplemental affordable housing dollars for both public and private housing providers. Many of the City’s sustainability efforts are also incorporated into various master plans and capital projects such as solar panel installation, tree plantings, prairie management, fare free transit, expanded electric vehicle charging stations, multi-modal roadway improvements, community gardens, and waste reduction programs. Partnerships & Engagement: This budget includes funds to support various outreach events throughout the City such as Party in the Park and Rec ‘N Roll events, National Night Out and other proactive public safety outreach events, Emergency Services Youth Camp, and a focus on engagement of all ages through Recreation, Library, and Senior Center programming budgets. Partnerships with private and public entities are commonplace in operating budgets. Examples of new partnerships in the FY 2025 budget include enhanced funding for trash removal and general maintenance of the central business district with the Iowa City Downtown District, a new civilian data analyst position in Police that will help Iowa City support the County’s emerging community violence intervention program and funding for the new winter shelter service agreement with Shelter House. Neighborhoods & Housing: In alignment with the City’s Affordable Housing Action Plan, the General Fund transfer to the Affordable Housing Fund is projected to increase by 3% to $1,030,000. Allocations from this fund will now include an approximately $75,000 increase in support of the community’s winter shelter. Funding is allocated to continue to support the Shelter House Street Outreach program. Similarly, funding is included to launch an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Supplemental revenue streams including fee-in-lieu payments, tax increment financing revenue and federal grants will continue to expand the City’s capacity for investments in affordable housing. Planned investments in parks and trails, including renovation and acquisition, that contribute to the City’s public open space accessibility goals can be found throughout the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Mobility: The Fiscal Year 2025 budget continues to invest in projects and programs that promote a healthy multi-modal transportation network in Iowa City. Parking and Climate Action funds are budgeted to bolster both public and private electric vehicle charging stations in the community. Strategic Impact Areas

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