FY26 Proposed Budget

• Hosted a Bike to Work Week breakfast featuring installation of “practice rack” at Chauncy Swan ramp to allow cyclist to engage with placing bike on front bus racks. • Sponsored a full week of Climate Fest activities, including a film screening, EV car show, and Fare Free celebration.

Upcoming Challenges:

• Absorbing costs into the general fund for ongoing programs and projects previously funded through the Emergency Levy. • The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) contains energy efficiency tax credits for homeowners but continues to be difficult for landlords or renters to access, leaving more than half of Iowa City’s households unable to tap into this source of federal tax credits and rebates. • An IRA energy efficiency rebate program to be administered by the state has yet to be filed with federal administrators for approval, making it difficult to anticipate when/how the City might budget differently for local energy efficiency programs like Insulate Iowa City grants. • Impact of more frequent extreme weather events on City operations, community organizations, and residents resulting in need to invest in adaptation measures as well as mitigation efforts. • Potential for rising energy demand of nearby data centers to reverse attainment of clean energy goals. • Augmenting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout climate action initiatives. • Limited voluntary participation in an energy benchmarking program for Iowa City buildings following state legislation prohibiting building performance standards.

79