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Des Moines › Apr 6, 2026 meeting › Item 47

The council adopted the City’s $953,084,831 budget for the year starting July 1, 2026, by a 7–0 vote.

Des Moines City Council · Apr 6, 2026 · Roll call 26-0469

Adopted the FY2027 budget. Moved by Gatto, seconded by Voss. The same meeting also amended the current-year budget (roll call 26-0468) and set a 6% stormwater rate increase (see the stormwater page). Passed 7–0; no members voted no.

What this means (Budget): The city’s spending plan for a fiscal year, which runs July 1 to June 30 in Iowa.

How each member voted

OfficialSeatVote
Connie BoesenMayorYes
Carl VossAt-largeYes
Mike SimonsonAt-largeYes
Rob X. BarronWard 1Yes
Linda WestergaardWard 2Yes
Josh MandelbaumWard 3Yes
Joe GattoWard 4Yes

Unanimous votes are shown as-is and are not used to compare officials.

More from the record

This hearing adopted the recommended budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, across all City funds and including the capital budget. The Finance Director wrote that state limits on taxable value growth (HF 718) and rising costs make balancing the budget hard even at current service levels. To close the gap, the budget includes 16 position reductions (13 vacant, 3 changes in force) and changes to building security, the violence interruption program and library operations. New capital projects include an East University Avenue pedestrian bridge and Fire Station 12; three projects were removed. Self-supported improvement district rates stay the same. Four public meetings were held in December and January. Council Communication 26-125 (saved copy)

The alternative

No other options were presented in the record.

Money

Who
Everyone who pays City taxes and fees
How
$953,084,831 total appropriation across all City funds
When
July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Source
Council Communication 26-125 (saved copy)

Jobs and services

Who
City staff and people who use security, violence interruption and library services
How
16 positions cut (13 vacant, 3 changes in force); changes to building security, violence interruption and library operations. Details: Not in the record.
When
FY2027
Source
Council Communication 26-125 (saved copy)

Housing

Who
2,975 households with Section 8 vouchers and residents of 415 public housing units
How
No major changes to the Housing Services budget
When
FY2027
Source
Council Communication 26-125 (saved copy)

From the official minutes summary: all seven members were present (roll call 26-0416) and only Nays are named, so the rest voted yes.

Source Agenda for the whole meeting, item 47 (saved copy) · Full minutes for the whole Apr 6, 2026 meeting, p. 9 (roll call 26-0469) (saved copy) · Council Communication 26-125 (saved copy)

What you can do

Have your say

Public comment: use the city’s Request to Speak form before 5 PM CT the day before a meeting.
Written comment: City Clerk, cityclerk@dmgov.org, (515) 283-4209. Mention roll call 26-0469.

Meetings page (saved copy) ·

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Contacts: City Council page (saved copy)

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6 · Sources

Corrections appear here as dated notes. Nothing is rewritten.