Public hearings on tax levy, bond issues at Thursday’s Muscatine City Council meeting


Four public hearings will be held during the first Muscatine City Council meeting of March on Thursday, including three tied to the City’s next bond issue in May 2022.

A virtual meeting will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable in attending in person. Details for joining that meeting are listed below.

The City’s next bond issue, scheduled for May 2022, will provide funding for a number of City projects that have recently been completed, are currently underway, or will be underway in calendar years 2022 and 2023. These projects and the proposed bond issue were reviewed with the City Council as part of the recent budget sessions.

The bond issue is estimated at $6,200,000 with $6,090,000 for project costs and $110,000 for estimated bond issuance costs. The projects include those classified as Essential Corporate Purposes including the Park Avenue improvements, the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction project, Park improvements, Building Demolition projects, Flood Damage repairs, Transfer Station Tipping Floor Restoration, the Public Safety Telephone System upgrade, and purchases of a new fire engine and two ambulances for the Fire Department.

General Corporate Purpose projects include the purchase of the former Kum and Go property, Aquatic Center repairs, Deferred Building Maintenance projects, and the City portion of the new Vehicle Wash Bay.

The public hearings will be held prior to the City Council taking action on the attached resolution.

The first public hearing will be on the maximum tax levy for the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget. Only the General, Transit, Tort Liability/Insurance, Emergency, and Employee benefits levies are included. The FY 22/23 budget will see an increase of $395,583 from these levies (3.95%) but actual tax bills will be lower due to an increase in taxable valuations and state rollbacks.

The Council will also set a public hearing for the FY 2022/2023 budget. That hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 17 with the City budget due in the hands of the Muscatine County auditor by March 31.

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the March 3, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

The best way for the public to participate is to dial in to the GoToMeeting session, mute your device, watch the session on YouTube or Cable Channel 2, and, at the appropriate time, unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on the GoToMeeting virtual meeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member.

Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting | Thu, Mar. 3, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.