This year, the five board members are proposing $ 750,000 in additional property tax revenue for affordable housing, $ 250,000 for sidewalk repairs, $ 200,000 for tree pruning replacement, $ 175,000 to hire two additional firefighters and $ 125,000 for mental health services.

If property tax revenues generate more than $ 1.5 million, these council members propose a property tax reduction of $ 500,000 and sharing the remaining additional income on the fire and police pension. and the streets.

Shobe said he spoke to city staff about the allocation of money for sidewalk repairs and tree pruning, not the rest of the suggestions.

“The entire list is not mine,” he said. “The rest, I am not opposed to them, but they are not mine. “

Beckius said he agreed with Raybould that it’s important to offer taxpayers tax relief, but some of that money should be used to advance the needle in trying to respond to some of the city’s unmet needs.

Washington said its priorities were affordable housing as well as adding firefighters and trying to catch up with a significant backlog in tree maintenance.

She said she doesn’t view the income so much as additional dollars, but as flexibility in budgeting to meet some of the city’s unmet needs.