Hola Iowa
Des Moines residents and business owners have until the end of July to share their priorities as the city looks for ways to close an estimated $12 million budget gap for Fiscal Year 2028.
The city opened an online Budget Savings Calculator that lets the public review possible cuts, savings and revenue changes before City Council members vote later this year on an initial package of budget changes.
The options could affect city services including library hours, public swimming pools, park and cemetery maintenance, neighborhood policing, development reviews and several city fees.
City officials said the public exercise is not a final recommendation. The options are being presented for discussion before the city manager brings a consensus package to the council.
Budget options include libraries, pools and parks
The city is reviewing more than $15 million in possible cuts and new revenue options for the FY2028 General Fund. The online exercise focuses on an approximately $12 million target, though the final amount could change as budget estimates are refined.
Library options include eliminating Sunday hours, closing smaller branches one additional day each week, closing larger branches one additional day or closing one small branch. The city says the City Council sets the library’s dollar amount, while the Library Board and director decide operations.
Parks and Recreation options include closing two of the city’s five public swimming pools, reducing park and cemetery maintenance, ending supplemental seasonal police patrols funded through the parks budget, reducing environmental education programming and adding paid parking at Gray’s Lake Park during designated periods.
The city is also considering higher nonresident rates, a youth fee for community recreation centers and other parks-related fee changes.
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Police, permits and property services are also on the list
Police-related options include reducing Neighborhood Based Service Delivery outreach services, eliminating Police Activities League services and adjusting traffic, patrol and investigations staffing levels.
Other options could affect development and property services. The city lists possible changes such as longer site plan review timelines, a new roofing permit, reduced zoning inspections and ending the city-funded contract for graffiti removal on private property.
Engineering options include reduced inspection services for public improvement projects, reduced demolition project coordination, reduced traffic and parking operations coordination, and new engineering fees.
Administrative and citywide fee options account for about $6.4 million in possible savings. Those include reductions in internal support departments such as the City Clerk, City Manager’s Office, Legal, Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources, as well as a review of city fees and revenues.
Property tax law is part of the shortfall
Des Moines is preparing the FY2028 budget earlier than usual because of a new state property tax law that caps annual property tax revenue growth at 2%.
The city says the cap does not keep pace with recent inflation levels and limits how much revenue the city can raise for services. Des Moines estimates a $12 million general fund gap for FY2028 and an additional $5 million gap for FY2029.
The FY2028 budget year runs from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.
City Manager Scott Sanders said the size of the gap makes it necessary for city leaders to gather public input before decisions are made.
Public input is open through July
Residents can take the online budget exercise, send comments to the Budget & Research Office, attend a public meeting or speak during public comment at a City Council meeting.
The in-person public budget meeting is scheduled for July 9 at 6 p.m. at Central Library.
The city expects to publish results from the online budget exercise in early August. Sanders is expected to present an initial consensus package of budget savings to the City Council on August 26.
The City Council is expected to vote on that initial package at its September 14 regular meeting. State law requires the city to adopt and submit its final FY2028 budget by April 30, 2027.
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