The Des Moines Register

Waukee council approves budget, including a lower tax levy, parks projects

- Phillip Sitter Des Moines Register USA TODAY NETWORK Phillip Sitter covers the western suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @pslifeisab­eauty.

Waukee has lowered its property tax levy in its new budget and included two new neighborho­od parks in its capital improvemen­t plan.

The Waukee City Council on Monday unanimousl­y approved he city’s $148.1 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which starts July 1.

The council also approved the city’s five-year capital improvemen­t plan.

What is the new property tax levy in Waukee?

The city will reduce its tax levy 10 cents to $12.95 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

What new staff, projects are included in the budget?

Waukee currently has about 160 full-time staff positions, according to a news release. The new budget includes adding two police sergeants, three fire lieutenant­s and five firefighte­rs, a traffic signal technician, a traffic engineer and an IT technician.

The city’s approved capital improvemen­t plan includes a new public safety facility and a new fire engine, as well as the following:

New neighborho­od parks in Spring Crest and Painted Woods

Updates to the Centennial Park playground

The first phase of a project to extend University Avenue Improvemen­ts to T Avenue The Prairie Rose Greenway trail A new water tower

Central Iowa Water Works capacity expansion at Saylorvill­e

An asphalt overlay on the Sugar Creek Municipal Golf Course parking lot

Constructi­on of a new West Area Trunk sewer

Budget includes stormwater rate increase

The City Council has approved a 2.1% monthly billing increase for stormwater and solid waste for the average Waukee household.

“This minimal increase will help keep up with increased operation and system costs,” according to the city’s news release.

 ?? ?? Outside Waukee City Hall, on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
Outside Waukee City Hall, on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

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