By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council met earlier this week and held a public hearing on their budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The city’s property tax rate will be $10.20 per $1,000 of valuation, which is the same rate the city has had for the previous 21 years. The budget includes about $55.2 million in revenues compared to $55.7 million in expenses, with city staff attributing the deficit to one-time capital expenditures as part of a planned drawdown of fund balance. The budget was approved by the council in a 5-1 vote.

The council also approved special event permits for the Tulip Time Festival from May 4-6 and the Pella Farmers Market, which will operate on Thursdays from April 27 to October 26, with the exception of Tulip Time. And they discussed the Local Option Sales and Services Tax Redistribution Agreement with Marion County and the city of Knoxville. The agreement will expire on December 31 of this year. The council authorized city staff to begin the process of renegotiating the agreement, but no further action was taken.

The next regular council meeting for the city of Pella will be held on May 2.