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Current Events
- If you or people in your area want to meet and discuss current/future topics related to the city, reach out to me to set up a time to visit. (email, phone call, or in person)
- As you're driving on the river road by Stephens' park, you'll notice construction on the south side of the road. That's the new central water system treatment facility in progress.
- Many of you are familiar with the phrase "rural look and feel" or "rural character." Dayton residents have said this is important to them and I agree. It's even in our mission statement. We've had a couple work sessions on the topic and I believe it'll result in a list of ideas we will be prioritizing for the future. If you have ideas, please let me know.
- Our Economic Development Authority (EDA) commission has an opening. If you an interest contact me, the city, or the EDA chair.
- Our Planning commission is also looking to fill an opening. You don't need to have a planning background to be appointed.
Item P (Budget Discussion)
This was an initial discussion on the 2026 budget. Getting each of the council’s thoughts on their budget goals helps staff get to a starting point.
The budget is the most important item the council decides every year. It drives the services your city provides you and drives the CITY’S portion of your property taxes. Here are some basics regarding the property tax you pay...
- Your property tax consists of roughly 3 components; county, school, and city taxes. The city portion is the set by the city council. That’s the number you should focus on with regards to your city council.
- The city portion of YOUR property tax depends on 2 numbers; The tax rate (the council sets) and the property value (the county sets).
- The tax rate is set by the city council and is basically the “tax levy” (amount the city wants to spend) divided by the “tax capacity” which is calculated by the county and is proportional to the sum of the property values in the city. So, Tax Rate = Levy / Capacity.
- The capacity is made up of 2 numbers; Property value increases and new development. For 2026 we’ve been told the capacity increase is 8.1%. The development portion of that was 6.3%.
Here’s what I tell people to watch... Just because the city council keeps the tax rate the same doesn’t mean your taxes will stay the same. If your value increases, you will pay more and obviously the city will get more from you. Human nature being what it is, the “needs” that the city has always seem to line up the the increase in the capacity number. Dayton’s tax rate stayed at about 55% for years due to leaders allowing this.
For the average property owner, this boils down to... if the tax levy increase stays below 6.3%, your city tax stays the same as last year and the tax rate goes down. If the tax levy increase is at 8.1%, your city tax will go up and the tax rate stays the same. If the levy goes up above 8.1%, your city tax will go up and the tax rate goes up.
Some would argue, due to inflation, residents should expect their taxes to go up every year. There’s a good argument to be made there, but that assumes you believe our tax rate is in line with the value you’re getting. As of today, I believe the city still has some fat in the budget and we should try to keep that increase limited to the development (6.3%).
Item Q (Parkway Neighborhood Infrastructure)
This development is the apartment complex that has been approved on the south side of the freeway. Part of that agreement was that the city would build the road up to the development which includes a portion from Dayton Parkway across private property to the development. This item was to approve the design and specifications for the road. That was approved 5-0, but an issue recently surfaced that puts a kink in the actual construction. The private property portion apparently wasn’t agreed to in writing, and they’ve recently notified the city that fact. Staff was under the impression the property owner was ok with it given they will also need that road. I, and some of the other council members, didn’t understand how that got missed... but it did. In the meantime, the council requested that staff discuss the issue with them and determine what’s going on.
Item R (French Lake Road Moratorium)
At the last council meeting the council put a development moratorium on an area on the east side of the Dayton Parkway when it became apparent the road plans in the area might be wrong. This item was to give some guidance to staff as to what they might need to get the council a concept plan.
Item S (Dayton Parkway Signals)
There are 2 intersections on the parkways on either side of the interchange that will need control lights. This was to approve the design and specifications development and the funding mechanism to construct them. While we still don’t have the funding decided for the southwest intersection, the vote was 5-0 to go forward with the engineering work since it’ll be needed regardless.
Item T (City Code Chapter 31)
This item was to update the city ordinance regarding the mayor and council and how meetings and agendas are structured. There have always been differences in the ordinance versus how things currently are done, and this was to get those synced up to each other. It was approved with minor changes 5-0.
Feel free to contact me with your opinions and ideas.