The Johnston City Council adopted and approved the city's budget and Capital Improvement Projects budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The FY 2024 budget, which begins July 1, 2023, reflects the economic impacts caused by inflation, an increase in the demand for services due to the city's growth, and a highly competitive labor market, making it difficult to recruit and retain quality employees.
The adopted $86.4 million FY 2024 budget includes a moderate increase of 18 cents in the city's tax levy rate. For the City of Johnston employees, it includes a cost-of-living increase for staff and hiring necessary personnel to ensure residents continue receiving quality service from employees serving this community. It addresses the city’s commitment to keeping residents safe by funding an additional police officer, two firefighters and an ambulance. While the Capital Improvement Projects budget is aggressive, it ensures the needs that residents identified in the recent community survey are met, and we continue steady growth.
"We are proud of the work that went into putting together a fiscally responsible budget to meet the needs of our community,” said Mayor Paula Dierenfeld. We appreciate the City Council and staff's conservative approach to the budget this year. "While this was an extremely difficult one with inflation pressures we are all feeling, it is a budget that reflects our city’s value of public safety, and ensures projects and infrastructure meet the demands of our growing community. It also helps ensure we fairly compensate employees who ensure the quality of our streets, parks and amenities we all enjoy. The budget balances our city’s needs and ensures we stay fiscally responsible as we move forward into the future."
The $86.4 million budget and the use of Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) to lower the tax rate results in a tax rate of $10.85 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value. Without LOSST, the tax rate would have been $13.07. Homeowners can expect a 2.66% increase in city property taxes for FY 2024 compared to FY 2023. With a residential property valued at $100,000, residents will pay an additional $15.39 per year.
The city's portion of a Johnston property owner’s total tax bill is 27%. The remaining taxes go to Johnston Schools (45%), Polk County (17%), Broadlawns Hospital (7%), DART (2%), DMACC (1%), and Polk County Assessor (1%).
With the adopted budget, the departments will add staff and resources to ensure residents continue receiving quality services. These include:
- Police Officer
- Two Firefighter/Paramedics
- Rental Housing Inspector
- Maintenance Worker I (Water/Wastewater Division)
- Maintenance Worker I (Public Works Department)
Highlights of the Capital Improvement Projects include the following projects:
General Government
- Ambulance Purchase
- Town Center Promenade
- 5055 Merle Hay Road Redevelopment and Grading
Park Improvements
- Simpson Barn Improvements
- Crown Point Community Center Renovations
- Water trail construction (Merle Hay Road and Beaver Creek)
- Lew Clarkson Park master plan and additions
- Dewey Park
- Centurion Park
- Dog Park
- Waterford Trail Reconstruction
- Beaver Drive Trail Extension
- NW 78th Avenue Trail Extension
Street Improvements
- Design of NW 62nd Avenue (Beaver Drive to NW 54th Avenue)
- Asphalt Overlay of NW 107th Street (NW 70th Avenue to NW 78th Avenue)
- Implementation of the sidewalk repair, replacement and construction program
- Reconstruction of NW 100th Street (NW 54th Avenue to NW 62nd Avenue)
Sanitary Sewer Improvements
- Design Segment B of the NW Area Sanitary Sewer Extension
- Pioneer Parkway (Rehab/Lining)
Water Improvements
- NW Beaver Drive Pump Station Rehabilitation
- Construction of NW Area Water Service Extension Segment A
- Design of NW Area Water Service Extension Segment B
More information about the city's FY 2024 budget can be found by visiting, www.cityofjohnston.com/budget.