The public hearing opened at 6:01 p.m. City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that the City Council had a work session and generally heard from department heads and had submitted a tentative budget. They looked at those recommendations and how they would fit in the general overall budget. They were close but changes were made to literally all the budgets. With the budget process, the city submits budget forms to the state. Ourada and Finance Director Wendy Thomas worked on the forms and had some time with Jerry Wilcox. Ourada worked on the budget forms and the summaries since he had several versions going and so no one would get confused. 
Ourada went through and explained the 24-25 Budget Summary. The total available is $51.5 Million and the total tax required is $1,545,000. The City of Crete's valuation is $450,968,476. Ourada stated that with our growth we are at 3.22% which is below 3.5% where we don't need to send out an increase postcard. The operating budget increase from 2023 was $45,072,000 to $45,400,688 in 2024 a 1% change. The property tax request was $1,499,880 in 2023 to the conservation option of $1,545,330 in 2024 for a 3% change. 
Ourada discussed two budget options: the first version balanced without a postcard and the second version also balances but requires a postcard for a joint public hearing it would provide less sales tax with a shift to more property tax. 
Mayor Dave Bauer stated that if they could make the budget work without sending the postcard they would be better off to do that option. 
The public hearing closed at 6:19 p.m.