(Atlantic, IA) – A Public Hearing will be held Wednesday in Atlantic, as part of the City Council meeting, which is set to begin at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. The hearing is with regard to the proposed adoption of the FINAL Fiscal Year 2027 City of Atlantic Budget. City Administrator John Lund, in his meeting preview, notes “As was the case in FY 2026, this budget should be considered a tentative budget that will likely require a significant amendment during FY27,” due to the uncertainty over the outcome of pending legislative action overhauling the State’s property tax system.
As it currently stands, the proposed budget for FY 2027 amounts to $16,159, 683 in expenditures, according the Lund, which is a decrease of 14.01%, or more than $2.6-million from the FY2026 Budget. Key elements to the proposed FY27 Budget include:
- A combined property tax levy decrease from $17.85/$100,000 in assessed valuation to $17.48/$100,000.
- A 3% increase in compensation to all non-union City employees under the control of the City Council. A 4.25% increase for Police Union employees.
- No increases to existing, non-utility fees.
Following the Public Hearing on the proposed Budget, the Atlantic City Council will act on adopting the Budget. A Public Hearing will then be held on Adopting the 2027-2037 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which covers all the physical assets of the City, including major equipment, parks, streets, storm sewer system, wastewater system and plant. The CIP calls for $16,916,157 in total improvements. A Resolution to adopt the CIP will follow the hearing.
The Council will also act on passing a Resolution to set salaries for appointed officers and employees of the City, for the Fiscal Year that begins July 1, 2026 and continues until June 30, 2027, and adopting the wage for season/part-time Parks & Recreation, Airport, and Street Employees for the 2026 Season. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has recommended across-the-board increases for all full-time, permanent part-time, and seasonal employees under the Council’s control, amounting to three-percent (3%).
Other action items include passing a resolution amending the City Employee’s Handbook with regard to Sick leave Retirement Benefits, and acting on the sale of City-owned property at 411 Birch Street (a vacant lot), to Paul & Kristi Wegner, in the amount of One-dollar ($1). Theirs was the only bid for the lot, for which the Wegner’s intend to construct a four-bedroom home expected to cost at least $300,000. The bid includes removal of trees on the property.
The only other business for Wednesday’s meeting, is a presentation by local Trees Forever representative Dolly Bergmann on a Tree City USA designation and related Proclamation to be signed by the Mayor. This will be the 30th year Atlantic is designated as a “Tree City USA,” based on volunteer efforts, a tree care ordinance, and annual forestry budget of at least $2.00 per capita. The City Council is also expected to act on an Order to Close 6th Street, between Poplar and Chestnut, for Thursday Produce in the Park events, beginning June 4, 2026 and continuing through Sept. 24, 2026, from 4-until 6:30-p.m. on the selected dates.
