Two separate public hearings will be held before tonight’s city council voting session, one on the local law to override the tax cap levy limit, and the other on the Department of Development’s Annual Action Plan.

The tax cap override was first discussed by council last month during their work sessions. Establishing the local law now allows for the city to override the set 2% tax cap levy if needed, and with costs such as for fuel rising, the city is expecting to need to, but passing the local law does not necessarily mean they will if it is not needed. Council members have also said that passing this local law now allows for more time, rather than trying to pass it and the budget at the same time.

With every local law in the city, there is a requirement that the law be tabled at the voting session for the month it was discussed to give time for public comment and a public hearing to be held, and the local law will be voted on at the following voting session, as the council has done for the tax cap local law.

The Annual Action Plan is also in the midst of a public comment period. During the last two work sessions the Development Department has discussed their Community Development Block Grant and HOME funding allocations and how it proposes to use sections of that allocation. Following the public hearing, a resolution in support of the submission to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development will be voted on at the council voting session. Following the approval of this resolution, the Development Department will be submitting the Annual Action Plan to HUD on June 1.

The public hearing for the tax cap levy override begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Annual Action Plan public hearing held right after at 6:45 p.m. The voting session begins at 7:30 p.m., and all three will be held in the city council chambers on the second floor of city hall.