Reinbeck Mayor Jamie Eiffler, center, opens the public hearing to consider the proposed Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-31 during the Tuesday, Sept. 1, City Council meeting held at City Hall. The plan was subsequently adopted, 5-0. Next Tuesday, Sept. 8, voters will decide whether to establish a capital improvements reserve fund and tax levy. Also pictured, Mayor Pro Tem Dale Wambold, left, and Councilor Dan Johnson, right. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

REINBECK – With municipal budgets continuing to tighten statewide, voters in the City of Reinbeck will head to the polls next Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a special election on a public measure to establish a continuing capital improvements reserve fund and impose a levy of 67.5 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.

During the city council’s regular monthly meeting on June 1, a resolution calling for the special election was adopted. Under Iowa Code, a city may establish a capital improvements fund and levy up to 67.5 cents per $1,000 of taxable value with voter approval. Such a fund may be used to finance specified capital improvements or to carry out a specific capital improvement plan.

As part of the council’s regular September meeting, held this past Tuesday, Sept. 1, at City Hall, council members adopted a five-year Capital Improvements Plan for fiscal years 2027-31. The plan, available on the city’s website, was prepared by city administrator Julie Wilkerson and consultant Patrick Callahan as a blueprint, or planning document, identifying future capital projects and estimated costs. It is not a legal commitment and can be revised at any time.

Nearly 50 projects were identified in the plan using feedback from department heads, Mayor Jamie Eiffler, city council members, and city boards and commissions. The mayor and council then ranked the projects: Projects ranked “A” are considered “very important” and “should be completed within the next two fiscal years”; projects ranked “B” are considered high priority; projects ranked “C,” moderate priority; and projects ranked “D” should be postponed until after the end of the five-year plan.

The plan also lists potential funding sources, including general obligation, or GO, bonds – Reinbeck currently does not have any GO debt but has placed a $4 million bond referendum for a new fire station on the November ballot; sanitary sewer and water revenue bonds; grants; donations and bequests; cash reserves – the plan indicates these funds are “not sufficient to finance capital projects”; and tax increment financing, or TIF.

Reinbeck’s plan also lists funding sources not currently being tapped; one such source is the tax levy being put to voters next Tuesday.

Public hearing

During Tuesday’s council meeting, a public hearing was held on the proposed capital improvements plan prior to adoption of the resolution.

“This is a plan for the city to schedule, plan, (and) finance projects and purchases. It doesn’t benefit just one entity in town, it benefits the whole town,” Mayor Eiffler explained at the opening of the hearing. “We have also put together a list of things that we prioritize as far as projects and things that we think need to happen, in order. That list is fluid.”

Only one citizen spoke during the public hearing, asking why there was a need for the new levy.

Eiffler responded that the tax was needed due to “the shortfall in our budgeting.”

“When these (city) departments come to us for their needs, it’s extra money that we can use to help them out with that. Every year gets smaller and smaller as far as being able to help these departments be able to budget without having to dive into our general fund, which is not what we want to do,” the mayor explained before stating that the levy, if approved by voters, would generate roughly $50,000 annually for the capital improvements fund.

“I feel, myself, that it’s a good way to help us offset some of these budgets to get things done (that) we need to get done,” Eiffler said. “If it doesn’t pass, it’s gonna get tough again just like it’s been the last few years. Our budget has been really, really tight. There’s no improvement with that, that I can see.”

The mayor was then asked if the special election was “in reaction to the change in how the state allocated money to cities and schools” as part of property tax reform passed earlier this year by the Iowa legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“It had a lot to do with that,” Eiffler replied.

In an email exchange with the newspaper late last month, Eiffler confirmed the decision by the council to call for a special election came about because of budget issues.

“We decided to move forward on this because of continued budget restraints,” he wrote. “We have compiled a lengthy list of projects within the city, some more urgent than others, (that) in recent years we struggle to obtain enough funds for, (allowing) our departments to function as they should. All this comes with a cost to our residents through taxes, but on the plus side, it gains us yearly revenue that can be distributed to our various departments for their needs.”

A flyer distributed by the City of Reinbeck to residents regarding the Sept. 8 special election includes a chart detailing the levy’s estimated annual cost to taxpayers. Residential assessed values of $100,000 (taxable value of $44,535) would result in an estimated annual tax increase of $30. For commercial properties with assessed values of $300,000 (taxable value of $201,802), the estimated increase would be $136.

Prior to closing the public hearing Tuesday evening, Eiffler said the Iowa legislature could sunset the capital improvements fund at any time, before adding, “But the biggest thing is Sept. 8 – please go down and vote.”

The City of Reinbeck special election is set for Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Voting will take place at the Reinbeck Memorial Building. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The public measure requires a simple majority to pass – 50% + 1.

Proposed capital projects and equipment purchases

The City of Reinbeck Capital Improvements Plan’s proposed list of 49 projects ranked by the mayor and council is printed below.

For details on cost estimates and funding sources – not all projects would be funded with moneys generated by the proposed capital improvements reserve fund levy – copies of the plan are available at City Hall. The plan is also available on the city website at reinbeck.org.

According to the plan, the top 18 projects can be completed “through unified board collaboration during the budget process.”

1) Center Street Water Main & Street Reconstruction Project Phase 1

2) Center Street Reconstruction Project Phase 2

3) Annual Slip Lining Project – Sewer

4) Pickleball/Basketball/Tennis Courts Improvements Project – Park

5) CIP (Capital Improvements Plan) Fund Building

6) Chestnut Street to Park Street Project

7) New Computers – City Hall

8) New Copier – City Hall

9) Continue Pump Replacement – Water Plant

10) Tree Removal Program – Street Curbs

11) New laptop and Printer – Sewer Plant

12) Remove and Replace Dying Evergreen Trees – Cemetery

13) New Water Tower

14) New Laptop and Printer – Water Plant

15) New Playground Equipment – Park

16) Painting Water Slide at the Aquatic Center

17) New Canopy Umbrellas at the Aquatic Center

18) Repaint Aquatic Center – Pool

19) Water Distribution Improvements – Water Department

20) Repair Exterior of Building – Fire Department

21) Replace Pool Grate – Pool

22) Remove Old Concrete Drives and Replace with New – Cemetery

23) Paint Outside Facade – City Hall

24) Addition Gas Monitors – Fire Department

25) Street Sweeper Purchase – Street Department

26) Elmwood Park Walking Trail Project – Park

27) Skid Loader Purchase – Street Department

28) New Columbarium – Cemetery

29) Purchase of Equipment/Purchase of Man Lift

30) Replace SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) bottles – Fire Department

31) New Ladders for Fire Trucks – Fire Department

32) Enclose the Pump Room at the Aquatic Center – Pool

33) New Pickup – Park & Cemetery

34) Landscaping Project – Memorial Building

35) Replace Honey Wagon – Sewer Plant

36) Bathroom Expansion – Memorial Building

37) Phase 2 Remodel Project: Building & System Improvements FY28 – Library

38) Public Works Building Project – Street Department

39) New Meeting Room, Office Tables & Chairs – Fire Department

40) Bathroom Remodel – City Hall

41) New Rit Pack – Fire Department

42) Phase 3 Remodel Project: Children’s Library Improvements FY30

43) New Hot Water Pressure Washer – Fire Department

44) New Tanker – Fire Department

45) Shelving Units – Fire Department

46) New Fire Station Project – Fire Department

47) New 24′ Enclosed Trailer – Fire Department

48) New Pickup – Fire Department

49) Main Street Curb/Gutter/Stormwater Proiect