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Home My WebLink AboutA028 - FY 2026/27 City Council Budget GuidelinesTo:Mayor & City Council From:Corey Goodenow, Finance Director Date:December 16, 2025 Subject:Budget Guidelines Item No. 33 MEMO At the onset of each fiscal year's budget preparation cycle, the City Manager and Finance staff engage the City Council in a comprehensive budget overview. Please see the attached documents that describe the FY 2026/27 Budget Issues. ATTACHMENT(S): FY 2026-27 Budget Issues Document Attachment A - FY 2026-27 ASSET Requests Attachment B - FY 2026-27 Outside Funding Applications Attachment C - FY 2026-27 Town Budget Meeting Minutes City Clerk's Office 515.239.5105 main 515.239.5142 fax 515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811 Ames, IA 50010 www.CityofAmes.org 1 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 1 - FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ISSUES At the onset of each fiscal year's budget preparation cycle, the City Manager and Finance staff engage the City Council in a comprehensive budget overview. This presentation serves four primary objectives: 1. Offering a comprehensive perspective of the forthcoming year's budget, including incorporating factors likely to influence the Council's budgetary decisions later in the cycle. 2. Sharing input and requests concerning the budget received from local citizens and organizations. 3. Soliciting Council guidance on specific budget components, such as overall funding allocations for human services and the arts. 4. Receiving any broad funding or service level directives the Council wishes to integrate into the budget. OVERALL ECONOMIC CON DITION OF THE CITY As of August 2025, the Ames MSA’s unemployment rate was approximately 3.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted), reflecting a relatively low level of joblessness compared to many regions. This performance underscores the area’s labor market resilience, supported by stable employment in education, research, public services, and professional services anchored by Iowa State University (ISU), along with other private sector employers. Per capita personal income in the Ames MSA has shown consistent growth in recent years, increasing from $49,396 in 2021 to $54,141 in 2022 and $55,770 in 2023. This upward trend is indicative of a growing concentration of higher skilled, higher paying positions, particularly in education, research, technology, and professional services. While current GDP data for the Ames MSA is not always directly available, related economic indicators point to continued growth and diversification. A broad employment base anchored by a major public university and complemented by private services, manufacturing, and trade supports rising income levels and improving productivity. 2 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 2 - Overall, these indicators suggest that the Ames MSA remains eco nomically stable, with low unemployment, rising personal income, and a diversified economic structure that continues to transition toward a knowledge and service-oriented economy. CHANGES TO THE IOWA PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM The 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions continued the sweeping property tax reforms adopted in 2023, permanently reshaping Iowa’s municipal property tax framework. Taken together, these changes significantly limit revenue growth for cities through levy restrictions, expanded exemptions, and the elimination of state backfill payments. While these reforms were directed at property tax relief for taxpayers, the cumulative effect has placed additional strain on City budgets, particularly for communities experiencing continued valuation growth. Beginning in FY 2024/25, the Iowa Legislature replaced the traditional General Fund levy structure with the Combined General Fund Levy (CGFL). Cities are required to utilize this single levy through FY 2027/28, with a permanent statewide cap of $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable valuation taking effect in FY 2028/29. Unlike the prior system, which allowed greater flexibility, the CGFL includes an automatic reduction mechanism based on annual growth in a city’s non-TIF taxable property valuations. When growth exceeds certain thresholds, a city’s CGFL is reduced in the following fiscal year as shown below: • Annual non-TIF taxable value growth of less than 2.75 percent does not reduce the CGFL • Growth between 2.75 and 3.99 percent reduces CGFL revenue by approximately 1 percent • Growth between 4.00 and 5.99 percent reduces CGFL revenue by approximately 2 percent • Growth of 6.00 percent or more reduces CGFL revenue by approximately 3 percent Under the revised structure, cities may not increase their CGFL above the highest rate previously established during the statutory period, even in years where valuation growth falls below the reduction thresholds. Legislative analysis indicates that nearly all Iowa cities exceeded the statutory growth threshold at least once during the past six years, making future CGFL reductions likely for most communities. As a result, the CGFL functions as both a cap and a ratcheting mechanism that permanently compresses levy authority as valuations increase. Iowa continues to operate under the property tax rollback system that limits the taxable growth of valuations across property classes. Residential and agricultural properties remain “coupled” and capped at three percent annual growth or less, while commercial, industrial, and railroad properties remain permanently rolled back to 90 percent of assessed value. In addition, the first $150,000 of taxable value on commercial, 3 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 3 - industrial, and railroad properties is subject to the residential rollback rate rather than the 90 percent level. For FY 2026/27, the residential rollback rate declined from 47.4316% to 44.5345%, further reducing the portion of residential value subject to taxation. The State’s historical reimbursement program, known as backfill, was originally created to partially compensate local governments for commercial and industrial valuation rollbacks. While fully funded through FY 2021/22, legislation adopted in 2021 established an eight-year or five-year phase-out depending on each city’s valuation growth. Cities with growth above the statewide average were placed on a five-year phase-out schedule, while slower-growth communities received an eight-year transition period. The City of Ames experienced valuation growth of 37.0597% during the qualifying period, placing it in the five-year category. FY 2025/26 represents the final year of backfill funding for the City, with a loss of $195,316 compared to the prior year. FY 2026/27 marks the complete elimination of state reimbursement for commercial and industrial rollbacks and a permanent structural reduction to the property tax supported funds. The 2023 property tax reforms also expanded exemption programs, further reducing taxable valuations without state reimbursement. A new Homestead Exemption for property owners aged 65 and older was introduced at $3,250 in FY 2024/25 and increased to $6,500 beginning in FY 2025/26. The number of participating households from FY 2025/26 to FY 2026/27 rose from 2,669 to 2,737, and total exempt valuation increased from $17.3 million to $17.7 million. This results in lost revenue in the amount of approximately $180,000 annually. The legislation also expanded the Military Service Exemption and eliminated the State’s contribution toward that program beginning in FY 2024/25. The exemption now stands at $4,000 per qualified property, with 944 applications received for FY 2026/27. This change is estimated to reduce assessed value by $3.8 million, resulting in lost revenue of appro ximately $40,000 annually. Beyond changes to taxation authority and valuation, the Legislature also restructured the local budgeting process to increase transparency and state oversight. Cities must now submit a Proposed Tax Rate form to the Iowa Department of Management by March 5, and county auditors are required to mail property tax impact statements by March 20. Public hearings on property tax rates must be conducted as standalone meetings, and final budgets must be filed with the State by April 30. The se procedural changes have extended the budget cycle and increased administrative requirements for local governments. Taken together, the combined effect of levy compression, reduced taxable values, expanded exemptions, and the elimination of state reimbur sement has fundamentally changed the City’s revenue structure. While valuation growth continues in Ames, the 4 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 4 - City’s ability to convert that growth into funding for essential services and capital projects is now significantly limited under state law. The lo ss of backfill revenue and the limitations imposed by the CGFL represent a permanent shift in municipal finance that will continue to influence City budgets for the foreseeable future. GENERAL FUND The General Fund ended FY 2024/25 with an approximately $14.4 million balance. This created an ending balance roughly $3.5 million higher than what was anticipated when the FY 2024/25 budget was originally adopted. Overall, FY 2024/25 revenues were roughly $600,000 higher than budgeted. The largest revenue impact was increased interest earnings ($111,006) and the unrealized gain on investments ($965,875). Local Option Sales Tax revenue, however, was $336,913 lower than the final adjusted budget. FY 2024/25 expenses were roughly $2.9 million lower than the FY 2024/25 adjusted budget. However, approximately $2.5 million of the expense savings were related to capital and departmental projects carried over to FY 2025/26. The most significant operating expense reduction was a result of vacant positions in Law Enforcement. As previously mentioned, the savings from FY 2024/25 primarily stem from capital projects and departmental initiatives that were deferred to FY 2025/26. Of the additional General Fund balance, approximately $2.5 million has been allocated to unfinishe d FY 2024/25 projects that have been carried over to the FY 2025/26 budget. These projects include funding for the Fire Station improvements and equipment ($211,430), bike trail signage ($100,000), the Park Maintenance Facility ($459,138), the Auditorium H VAC system ($157,723), the Ontario Park conceptual plan ($100,000), City Hall improvements ($342,955), artwork for Schainker Plaza ($150,000), a community-wide engagement plan ($100,000), as well as other initiatives. After considering carryovers, staff has projected a net available balance of approximately $1 million at the conclusion of FY 2024/25. However, staff also anticipate additional savings from salaries from open positions in the FY 2025/26 adjusted budget will provide supplementary funding for one-time expenses. The Council has the option to leverage the additional balance from FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 to subsidize operating costs, thus resulting in a reduction in property tax rates in FY 2026/27. However, it is important to note that this strategy may lead to a greater increase in the following year, as the one-time balance would need to be replaced with a more permanent revenue source. Therefore, after careful consideration, the staff recommend utilizing the one-time available balance created by savings in FY 2024/25 as well as projected savings from FY 2025/26 for one-time expenses. This approach will help ensure that the budget remains stable and that there is no undue 5 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 5 - burden on taxpayers in the long term. During the budget review, the City Manager will present a list of potential projects that can be funded using the available balance. Additionally, the remaining fund balance that exceeds the Council-approved minimum balance (25% of revenues less pass-throughs) will help provide a contingency for unexpected expenses or revenue reductions, including additional modifications to the state's property tax system. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE FOR COMMUNI TY HEALTH (ARCH) In FY 2025/26, the City contributed $132,000 towards 60 hours of service per week from ARCH. Another up to $10,000 amount was approved to help cover needs for individuals or families encountered who are currently unsheltered. For FY 2026/27, ARCH has agreed to a City contribution of $130,000 for the 60 hours of service. Similar to FY 2025/26, the City’s contribution will share in the cost for personnel (48% to the City and 52% to MGMC). Any outreach funds may be added later should the Council desire. MGMC staff indicate they will continue to proactively engage in outreach efforts to educate the public about their services when they are not out on calls for service by interacting with individuals who are unsheltered, and other clients at schools, homeless shelters, and at other public locations such as the Library and Bandshell Park. ARCH will continue to explore future grant opportunities to reduce the partners' financial obligations. CYRIDE CyRide continues to see steady increases in ridership, with nearly 5 million passenger trips last year and projections to exceed 5.1 million rides this year. Both student and community ridership are trending upward, demonstrating that residents view CyRide as a trusted and convenient transportation choice. CyRide consistently ranks among the top five transit systems in the nation for ridership per capita, outperforming systems serving much larger cities. Maintaining that performance remains a top organizational priority. Strong ridership also helps CyRide secure additional federal funding opportunities, reducing the need for increased local contributions. Workforce stability continues to improve through focused hiring, retention, and training efforts to ensure reliable service, consistent operations, and positive customer experience. Technology upgrades are also planned to enhance real-time information, accessibility, and overall convenience for riders. 6 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 6 - CyRide is actively planning for the future of its fleet and facilities. The recent $14.6 million federal grant award will support expansion of the existing facility to address space constraints and improve operational efficiency. Continued investments in battery- electric buses and the expansion of our B100 pilot will further modernize the fleet and support community sustainability goals. To preserve existing service levels, CyRide is requesting a 3.5% increase in local funding contributions from its three partners for FY 2026/27. For the City of Ames, this contribution will come from property tax revenues generated by the Transit Levy, totaling $2,305,328. UTILITY RATES WATER AND WASTEWATER City staff updates long-term utility rate planning annually to reflect operating cost trends, capital improvement requirements, and debt service obligations. In coordinat ion with this process, staff evaluates the timing and structure of rate adjustments across utilities to moderate customer impacts while maintaining financial sustainability. In FY 2025/26, the City implemented a revised rate strategy under which wastewater and water rates are adjusted annually rather than alternating between utilities. This approach was adopted in response to the City’s 2024 loan agreement with the Iowa State Revolving Loan Fund Program to finance improvements to the Water Pollution Control Facility, with a not-to-exceed loan amount of approximately $65 million. Annual increases for both utilities provide a more stable revenue stream and improve the City’s ability to meet long-term operating and debt service requirements. For FY 2026/27, staff recommends continuing the same annual rate adjustments that were adopted in the prior year: a 5.5% increase in wastewater rates and a 3.5% increase in water rates. Consistent with prior projections, the net impact to a median residential customer is $3.03 per month. Maintaining consistent annual increases improves rate predictability, reduces volatility in customer bills, and supports long-term financial planning by aligning revenues with the City’s capital investment schedule. Staff continues to anticipate that these increases will remain in place for the remainder of the projection period, subject to annual review based on operating results, capital needs, and financial performance. ELECTRIC City staff updates long-term electric rate planning annually based on operating trends, load growth, capital investment needs, and market conditions. As part of the City’s 2024 electric rate study, the City’s rate consultant evaluated the adequacy of the existing rate 7 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 7 - structure to support future investment in generation resources, including renewable alternatives. Beginning in FY 2025/26, the City implemented a revised rate strategy that included an annual 1.5% increase in electric rates to provide stable funding for long-term infrastructure investments and avoid larger, single-year rate adjustments in future periods. Therefore, for FY 2026/27, staff recommends continuing the adopted rate strategy with a 1.5% increase in electric rates. Consistent with prior projections, the net impact to a median residential customer resulting from the increase is $1.22 per month. The City has entered into a formal agreement with an engineering firm to design and advance replacement of existing generation assets. At the same time, the City is working with a financial consultant to develop multi-year financial forecasts and evaluate the size, timing, financing structure, and rate impacts associated with this investment. Together, these efforts will inform long-term capital planning, rate sufficiency analysis, and debt affordability over the next decade. In addition, the planned transition away from municipal solid waste combustion is expected to provide added operational and financial flexibility to support future investments, including replacement of Unit 7 and additional capacity needed to meet forecasted demand, as reflected in the City’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Given the magnitude and long-term nature of these projects, staff will continue working with City Council to refine project scope, implem entation schedules, and funding strategies to ensure alignment with community priorities, system reliability objectives, and the City’s adopted rate policies. RESOURCE RECOVERY Effective July 1, 2024, the tipping fee increased from $62.50 to $75.00 per ton due to changes in the Electric Utility’s natural gas contract that reduced the ability to consume refuse-derived fuel (RDF) at the Power Plant. As a result, more material has been diverted to landfill disposal, increasing system costs and reducing tipping revenue. This increase was necessary to stabilize operations and better align revenues with actual disposal and transportation costs. The per-capita fee remains $10.50 and has not changed since 2018. As outlined in the R3C update materials, the transition to the Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus represents a long-term shift in operations and rate structure. The facility is planned to be operational in July 2027 with Carroll County as the City’s landfill partner. 8 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 8 - Updated financial modeling continues to show a required long-term tipping fee of approximately $95.11 per ton when the facility opens in FY 2027/28. To support design completion, equipment purchases, and construction costs, staff anticipates the need to increase the tipping fee to $85.00 per ton effective July 1, 2026. This interim rate is intended to strengthen cash flow, reduce financing pressure, and manage near -term disposal costs during the transition period. There is no proposed increase to the per- capita fee at this time. A city-wide curbside recycling program is also in development and is targeted to begin in July 2026. This program is intended to reduce landfill volume, moderate future tipping fee increases, and improve long-term system stability. Final monthly rates will be established once vendor pricing is obtained. STORMWATER The City’s stormwater utility operates under a four-tier rate structure based on impervious area, adopted in FY 2012/13. As of July 1, 2022, the rate is $5.20 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). Revenue from the stormwater fee is used to maintain and enhance the system, including storm sewer maintenance, flood mitigation, erosion control, and other infrastructure necessary for the effective management and discharge of stormwater. Staff continually evaluate the long-term needs of the stormwater system, including capital improvements, staffing, and equipment. While no rate increase is proposed for FY 2026/27, future adjustments may be necessary to support the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. Any recommendation for a rate increase will be evaluated in the context of progress made on projects carried forward from prior budgets. USER FEES Recent changes to Iowa’s property tax system have significantly limited the City ’s ability to rely on property taxes to fund some services, requiring a greater dependence on User Fees to maintain service levels and ensure financial stability. As property tax capacity is reduced, the City must increase and expand cost-based user fees across multiple areas, including building and development fees, parks and recreation programs, permit and inspection services, potential franchise fees, animal licensing fees (such as cat and dog registrations), and transaction-based charges such as credit-card processing fees. This represents a fundamental change in the City’s approach to financing services, shifting away from reliance on property taxes toward greater use of service-based fees to recover costs. While this approach improves alignment between fees and the services provided, it also places increased importance on careful policy decisions to ensure fees 9 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 9 - remain reasonable, services remain accessible, and the City is able to sustain operations and capital investment within the constraints imposed by state tax limitations. PARKING/RAMPS The Parking Operations Fund continues to face challenges in consistently generating sufficient operating revenue and, as a result, has not been able to contribute to the Parking Capital Reserve Fund to support future capital projects or major maintenance needs. While the fund is generally close to covering annual operating costs, it ended FY 2024/25 with an unreserved balance of $91,317. Even modest annual operating shortfalls typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 will, over time, erode this balance and could ultimately result in a deficit position if left unaddressed. Beginning in 2024, staff implemented enhanced collection procedures that restrict vehicle registration renewals for individuals with outstanding parking citations exceeding $50. In addition, the City has partnered with the Iowa Department of Revenue and began participating in the State Setoff Program, which allows the City to recover unpaid obligations through intercepts of State payments including income tax refunds and gaming winnings. While collection initiatives typically yield the greatest results in the first year of implementation before leveling off, parking citations submitted through the State Setoff Program have not yet passed through a full tax filing season. As a result, staff anticipates improved collection performance moving forward, although the magnitude of the impact remains uncertain. Although staff recognizes that parking rates will need to be increased to maintain the long-term financial viability of the fund, it is recommended that any rate changes be considered in coordination with future City infrastructure decisions, including the potential construction of a downtown parking structure. Aligning rate adjustments with broader system investments will allow Council to evaluate funding needs holistically and ensure that parking revenues are appropriately positioned to support both current operations and future capital requirements. HOTEL/MOTEL TAX FUND Hotel/Motel tax revenues are collected in the General Fund and transferred to the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund. Of the 7 cents per dollar collected, 5 cents are passed through to Discover Ames, 1 cent replaces the Local Option Sales Tax that is not collected on hotel stays, and the remaining 1 cent is allocated to the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund for economic development opportunities. From FY 2023/24 to FY 2024/25, collections increased from $2,762,000 to $3,027,969 or roughly 10%. This revenue increase is likely due to an increase in the number of events that drive room occupancy. For FY 2026/27, staff is estimating a budgeted amount of $3,210,000, which is a 6% increase over the FY 2024/25 actual revenue 10 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 10 - ($3,027,969) and a 2.9% increase over the FY 2025/26 ($3,120,000) projected revenue. The City maintains a strong balance in the Hotel/Motel Tax fund, ending FY 2024/25 at $1,846,000. These historical increases should assist Discover Ames to provide financial support to the proposed conference center within the LINC project. INTEREST RATE REVENU E While higher interest rates increase the City’s cost of borrowing, they also provide a meaningful revenue opportunity for funds with substantial cash balances. Staff projects interest earnings of approximately $6.0 million in FY 2025/26 and $6.7 million in FY 2026/27. Although market interest rates are expected to moderate, average fund balances continue to trend upward, partially offsetting the impact of rate declines. Estimated interest revenue was developed using a combination of year-to-date earnings, actual FY 2024/25 results, and an applied rate of 3.5 percent on projected average balances. This methodology reflects a conservative forecasting approach designed to limit reliance on volatility in short-term investment markets while maintaining consistency with historical performance. PENSIO N CONTRIBUTIONS MFPRSI The formula for determining the contribution rate for MFPRSI is defined in the Code of Iowa Chapter 411. Presently, the employee rate is constant at 9.4%. The employer rate, on the other hand, is determined annually by the MFPRSI Board of Trustees following an actuarial assessment. Currently, the City's contribution rate is 22.68%. There will be a minor decrease to 21.859% in FY 2026/27. The change in contribution rate results in approximately $95,000 in savings. IPERS The City contribution rate to the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) will be unchanged at 9.44% for FY 2026/27. The employee contribution will also remain at 6.29%, with a fixed 60/40 pension cost sharing. That said, contributions to the pension system continue to increase in coordination with salary increases. HEALTH INSURANCE After evaluating recent claims experience and projected fixed costs, staff recommends an 8% increase in all health insurance plan rates for FY 2026/27. This recommendation 11 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 11 - reflects ongoing volatility in medical claims, updated pricing for specific excess insurance coverage, and the application of more conservative assumptions to safeguard the fund against unexpected fluctuations. The goal of this approach is to maintain the long-term financial stability of the Health Insurance Fund and avoid the need for more substantial increases in future years. The proposed rate adjustment is expected to generate approximately $900,000 in additional revenue. However, because claims costs are projected to rise at a rate exceeding 8%, the fund is anticipated to draw down roughly $267,000 in existing reserves to meet FY 2026/27 obligations. Even with this planned use of fund balance, the Health Insurance Fund will remain above the reserve levels required for a self- insured program, ensuring the City retains an adequate financial buffer to manage year - to-year variability in claims. Looking ahead, if health care costs continue to escalate and further property tax limitations are enacted by the Legislature, the City will need to evaluate long-term strategies to manage employee benefit costs. These strategies could include adjustments to plan design or changes in employee contribution levels. Staff will continue to monitor fund performance closely and will return to the City Council with options should actual insurance costs exceed current projections. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN Following an 11% decrease in 2024, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) composite index for construction increased by 2.6% through three quarters of 2024. After years of supply issues, inflationary pressures, and staffing shortages, the annual increase represents an increase more in line with historical trends. This indicates that the market environment for City projects is expected to be similar to the previous year. ROAD CONDITIONS/ROAD USE TAX FUND The City’s annual Resident Satisfaction Survey's continually ranks the reconstruction of existing streets as one of the top capital improvement priorities. This represents a challenge since the lane-miles of streets continue to expand and existing streets continue to deteriorate due to age. The Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF) is a pool of funds collected through various means, such as motor vehicle registration fees, motor vehicle fuel taxes, an excise tax on automobile rentals, and a use tax on trailers. The revenue generated from RUTF is strictly used for the maintenance and operation of street rights-of-way and capital improvements. 12 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 12 - After years of 2.5-4% annual increases in road use tax collections, the City’s FY 2024/25 collections of $9.4 million were nearly identical to the collections in the previous year. For the adjusted FY 2025/26 budget, staff recommends maintaining the original budget amount of $9.5 million. For the 2026/27 recommended budget, staff projects a slight increase of $9.6 million. Should the growth in future road use tax collections continue to increase slower than historically anticipated, future road use tax funded CIP projects will need to be reprioritized and reduced to maintain the targeted unreserved fund balance of 10% of operating expenses. LOCAL OPTION SALES T AX The FY 2025/26 adopted budget included $12,400,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenues. Looking at the currently available information from the Department of Revenue, staff believe this continues to be a reasonable estimate for FY 2025/26. Additionally, given the available information and taking into consideration conservative budgeting practices, staff are recommending increasing the projected LOST revenue for FY 2026/27 to $12,700,000 (~2.5%). ASSET HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING The City Council adopted the following priorities for human services funding for FY 2026/27: (NOTE: Categories 1-5 are in priority order as are the lettered services in each category. An emphasis is placed on low to moderate income individuals and families in all categories and services). 1. Basic Needs a. Short-term rent and utility assistance b. Food insecurity and meal gap reduction c. Reliable transportation access d. Legal support e. Medical and dental services 2. Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stability a. Transitional and supportive housing b. Housing navigation services 3. Mental Health and Meaningful Connections a. Mental health and substance use treatment access b. Social isolation reduction opportunities c. Crisis intervention and victim advocacy 13 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 13 - 4. Quality, Affordable Childcare a. Sliding fee scale options for childcare 5. Out of School Learning Opportunities a. Academic skill development and youth engagement b. Participation barrier reduction through financial and transportation support c. Summer and after-school academic programming The following table summarizes each year’s ASSET allocations by funders. Fiscal Year Story County Story County % Increase United Way of Story County UWSC % Increase ISU Student Gov't ISU Student Gov't % Increase City of Ames City of Ames % Increase Total Total % Increase 2019/20 1,461,105 28% 1,265,293 3% 194,430 0% 1,466,202 3% 4,864,822 6% 2020/21 1,534,160 5% 1,178,657 -7% 211,000 9% 1,524,850 4% 4,448,667 -9% 2021/22 1,592,631 4% 1,191,000 1% 268,782 27% 1,601,093 5% 4,653,506 5% 2022/23 1,688,922 6% 1,120,867 -6% 260,275 -3% 1,729,180 8% 4,799,244 3% 2023/24 1,753,184 4% 1,151,025 3% 268,541 3% 1,832,930 6% 5,005,680 4% 2024/25 1,805,340 3% 1,158,712 1% 276,892 3% 1,924,578 5% 5,165,522 3% 2025/26 1,868,513 3% 1,198,623 3% 273,535 -1% 2,020,807 5% 5,361,478 3% The prior budget year is not the only way to evaluate the amount to budget for the next fiscal year. The amount budgeted at this time each year can vary if the ASSET volunteers do not recommend utilizing the entire amount authorized by the City Council. This was the case for the current FY 2025/26 budget. A total of $49,844 was left unallocated and Council approved the volunteers’ recommendation to set those funds aside for basic needs. Additionally, $96,229 was reserved for continuous improvement and housing needs. Of the current undesignated and reserved funds, the following amounts have been designated for use: Unallocated ($49,844) Reserved ($96,229) 1 Administrative Assistant Cost $ 5,410.59 2 Community Roundtable Discussions $ 5,000 3 Consultant ASSET Strategic Conversations $ 15,000 4 Nonprofit Training $ 15,000 14 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 14 - 5 Homelessness Outreach Funds $ 10,000 6 County-wide Childcare Study $ 10,000 Total $ 10,000 $ 50,410.59 Remaining Undesignated Balance $ 39,844 $ 45,818.41 Additionally, the amount contracted with agencies may not be entirely drawn down each year. In FY 2024/25, approximately $44,635 (2.3%) of contracted funds were not drawn down by agencies. History of ASSET Funds FY 2024/25 City Funds FY 2025/26 FY 2026/27 Requested $2,280,601 Budgeted $1,924,578 Contracted $1,880,999 Requested $2,455,273 Budgeted $2,020,807 Contracted $1,874,734 Requested $2,357,058 FY 2026/27 Program and Service Requests For FY 2026/27, City ASSET funds requested by agencies total $2,357,058 (Attachment A), a decrease of $98,215 from requests in FY 2025/26 (approximately 4%). The requested amount, however, exceeds the $2,020,807 that was budgeted for FY 2025/26. As has been in the past, the requests outweigh the amount budgeted. The following items are noteworthy for the City Council: The ASSET Board approved two new agencies for FY 2026/27: 1. Creative Counseling Services – The mission of Creative Counseling Services is “to help individuals and families maximize their potential by providing the highest quality of therapy services while simultaneously preparing high qualified clinicians in the field of mental health therapy.” Their service request falls under service code 3.17 Mental Health Outpatient Treatment. The funding from ASSET would allow the organization to provide mental health counseling by master’s level interns under the supervision of a licensed clinician. 2. Nevada Food at First – This organization provides take out meals twice a week to eastern Story County. There is no host site where meals are served, however there are fourteen neighborhood food stops throughout Story County. Their service request falls under service code 2.01 Emergency Assistance for Basic Needs. The funding from ASSET would allow the organization to continue, and possibly expand, serving meals. It is important to note that City funding is 15 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 15 - reserved for residents of Ames and service areas in Ames, therefore, no City funding will be allocated to this new agency based in Nevada that serves eastern Story County areas. The ASSET Board approved three agencies adding additional service(s): 1. Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) a. 3.13 Service Coordination – Child Health – Child Health services at MICA have a mental health screening component where a Registered Nurse screens and refers patients to the appropriate mental health services and helps reduce barriers to access through care coordination calls. This service request helps fund this offering from MICA to clients with children. These are often brief services and interventions. b. 3.13 Service Coordination – Maternal Health – Programs at MICA have a mental health screening component where a Registered Nurse screens and refers pregnant and postpartum patients to the appropriate mental health services and helps reduce barriers to access through care coordination calls. This service request helps fund this offering from MICA to clients who are pregnant. c. 3.13 Service Coordination – Healthy Child/Child Care Nurse Consultant (CCNC) – A Registered Nurse who visits with children/childcare programs to assist with direct care protocols, documentation, and coordination of services for children with special health care needs. The Registered Nurse may be visiting an in-home daycare or childcare center seeing more than one child at a time. d. 3.13 Service Coordination – Child and Adult Food Care - The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a USDA program created to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults while in a childcare setting. CACFP offers lifetime benefits, including a vital role in improving the quality of childcare and making it more affordable for many low-income families. Family Child Care providers receive nutritional education that helps them learn and understand proper foods and amounts to provide for the children in their care. Funding would go towards ensuring there are MICA staff hours to continue providing in-home nutritional education and training for both providers and children. 2. The Arc of Story County a. 1.01 Supported Employment for Individuals with Mental Health or Developmental Disabilities - Project SEARCH. Project SEARCH is a nationally based program that combines classroom instruction with 16 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 16 - supervised workplace internships to prepare individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities for permanent employment. The Arc of Story County partners with Iowa State University (ISU), who serves as the internship host for the program and provides employment training. ISU is unlikely to fund this at the level they have previously, and therefore ASSET funds are being sought as another revenue source. This is a new service ask for ASSET. b. This year, the ARC of Story County is bringing All Aboard for Kids’ programs under their organization. This includes two ASSET -funded services, previously funded through All Aboard for Kids: 1) 1.01 Supported Employment for Individuals with Mental Health or Developmental Disabilities - Future Focus, which focuses on workplace readiness and adult readiness for autistic teens, and 2) 1.09 Out of School Programming STEAM Academy, focused on a Science Technology, Engineering the Arts and Mathematics focused on creating an inclusive learning environment. 3. Center for Creative Justice: 3.13 Service Coordination – Reentry services. – The Center for Creative Justice is proposing a new service for reentry planning, navigation, and support. The proposed program would offer planning and coordination for individuals reentering the community following a period of incarceration. New clientele would include individuals incarcerated in the Story County jail who are being released back into the community without pre -trial release or probation supervision services. Important notes on other agencies:  National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – NAMI’s request of the City for Family and Peer Support for FY 2026/27 is $2,000, up 264% from the previous contracted amount of $550. The request for Family and Peer Education is up 150% from the previously contracted amount of $1,200. On November 18, 2025, the City Council approved sequestering approximately 89% of their FY 2025/26 contracted funds until outstanding audits are completed, provided, and reviewed by staff. At this time, all funds for NAMI remain sequestered.  Prairie Flower (Day Care – Children and Day Care – School Age) – Prairie Flower was a new ASSET agency in FY 2025/26. The City contracted for $9,000 in daycare children services and $6,300 in daycare school age services. For FY 2026/27, the requested amounts are $27,217 for daycare children services, up 202% from previously contracted amounts; and $16,632 for daycare school age services, up 164% from previously contracted amounts. Overall, this is a request of 187% more than what was contracted in FY 2025/26. 17 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 17 -  Primary Health Care (Community Clinics and Dental Navigator) – Primary Health Care (PHC) requested ASSET funding for two new services in FY 2025/26: 1) Community Clinics – Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Behavioral Health, PHC, which the City contracted for up to $4,606 in services and 2) Service Coordination – Dental Navigator, PHC, which the City contracted for up to $2,400 in FY 2025/26. The FY 2026/27 request for Community Clinics – Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Behavioral Health, PHC, is $27,355, a 494% increase from the contracted amount. PHC’s Service Coordination – Dental Navigator is not being continued.  The Bridge Home (TBH) – For FY 2025/26, TBH requested $203,894 from the City for emergency assistance – rapid rehousing, emergency shelter and transitional living. The City and other ASSET Funders did not purchase any services from TBH for FY 2025/26. For FY 2026/27, TBH is requesting $122,564 from the City for emergency assistance – rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, and rapid-rehousing service coordination.  The Community Academy (TCA) - In FY 2025/26, the City contracted with TCA for up to $1,500 for out of school programming and $15,000 for summer learning. Their total FY 2026/27 request for the City is $53,000, up 221% from the amount contracted last year. The programs intend to add more spots for lower-income families with children, and the summer program intends to expand, adding more weeks into the schedule.  The Salvation Army (TSA) – Overall, the request from TSA for FY 2026/27 is $254,500, 17% more than what was contracted for last year ($217,200). TSA continues to provide emergency shelter services which is a significant portion of the request for FY 2026/27 ($140,000 of the $254,500 request).  YSS (Transitional Living Services and Rapid Rehousing) – YSS’s new location, known as the “Ember Recovery Campus” opened in 2025. With this major change, YSS has been reevaluating its service offerings. Rosedale Shel ter has been discontinued. Overall, YSS’s request is $255,134, 13% higher than the contracted amount for FY 2025/26. SERVICE OUTCOMES REP ORTING Agencies continue collecting and reporting service outcomes through Clear Impact Scorecard and submit data with their ASSET budget packet. Those outcome reports are shared with the ASSET volunteers as one of the several tools used to prepare allocation recommendations for the Funders. 18 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 18 - ASSET ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES In addition to the amount authorized for human service programs, the City also budgets its share of the ASSET administrative expenses. The expenses include the administrative assistant salary, website hosting, virtual programs, printing, and meal expenses for the volunteers. Last year the City’s estimated share was $9,064. With a 3% estimated increase in services, the FY 2026/27 need is $9,336. FUNDING OPTIONS Last year, the City Council authorized a 5% increase in funding. The table below indicates allocation options based on the percentage increases from the FY 2025/26 budgeted amount of $2,020,807. It should be noted that staff estimates the funding source, local option sales tax, will increase by approximately 2.5% in the coming year. Increase from Current Dollar Increase Total City Funding Authorized 0% 0 2,020,807 3% 60,624 2,081,431 4% 80,832 2,101,639 5% 101,040 2,121,847 16.64% (agency requests) 336,251 2,357,058 As explained above, in addition to the authorized funding, $9,336 of additional funds will be included for administrative expenses. Staff are, therefore, recommending a 3% increase to the total authorized funding amount for ASSET, with $100,000 being reserved for case management. Case management has been a gap service f or the last couple years from ASSET agencies, especially for individuals/families utilizing the hotel vouchers. As such, Staff is recommending that of the total 3% increase, or $2,081,431, a minimum of $100,000 be reserved for case management. This funding could be used to procure case management services from a non-ASSET agency, as ASSET agencies have not been able to offer this request. Staff anticipates conducting a Request for Proposal process to find a provider. COTA – PERFORMING AR TS FUNDING For FY 2025/26, the City Council approved contracts with COTA agencies totaling $243,416, and an additional $9,562 was reserved to be used for fall and spring special project grants, for a total COTA allocation of $252,978. 19 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 19 - COTA has received annual grant applications from 23 agencies for FY 2026/27. This is an increase from 22 agencies receiving awards in FY 2025/26. Friends of Roosevelt Park returned to the COTA grant process after not seeking funding in FY 2025/26. The requests for FY 2026/27 total $297,188, which is a 17.5% increase ($44,210) above the total budgeted amount for FY 2025/26 (including the reserve for special project grants). Hearings were held by COTA with the applicants to review the application materials and answer questions. The City Council is being asked to establish the total funding amount that COTA may use to make its recommendations for FY 2026/27. From that amount, COTA will determine recommended funding amounts for each agency and will reserve the remainder for the special project “mini-grant” opportunities that are solicited twice each year. This special project grant reserve has varied in past years from $5,000 to $10,000 out of the total funding authorized by the City Council. The table below indicates the City Council’s awards in the current fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year: FY 2024/25 FY 2025/26 Difference Contract Amounts: $ % Award Amount to Agencies $ 233,016 $ 243,416 $ 10,400 4.5% Special Project Reserve 7,915 9,562 1,647 20.1% Total $ 240,931 $ 252,978 $ 12,047 5.0% As always, a range of options is available for establishing an authorized allocation for FY 2026/27. The entire amount authorized by the City Council is used by COTA. COTA sets aside a portion of the funds authorized by the Council for Special Project Grant funds to distribute later in the year. As with ASSET funding, growth in local option sales tax revenue is expected to be modest, with an estimated increase of 2.5 % in the coming year. 20 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 20 - Increase From Current Dollar Increase Amount Authorized 0% $ 0 $ 252,978 1% 2,530 255,508 2% 5,060 258,038 5% 12,649 265,627 17.5% (request) 44,210 297,188 FUNDING REQUESTS FRO M OUTSIDE ORGANIZATI ONS City staff accept applications from outside organizations wishing to receive funds for their organizations’ operations. The City Council has exempted the Ames Regional Economic Alliance’s business development partnership and the Ames Human Relations Commission from this process since those activities are conducted in an official capacity on behalf of the City government. Funds for these programs come from two sources: The Hotel/Motel Tax Fund supports the workforce development activities undertaken by the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. Requests from other outside organizations are supported with funds from the Local Option Sales Tax Fund. During the February 2020 Budget Wrap-up, the City Council adopted a new policy regarding reimbursement for parking meters that are closed for special events. The policy indicates that parking fees will not be waived for district-wide events, effective July 1, 2020. Instead, event organizers must reimburse the Parking Fund for lost revenue. In FY 2024/25, the City Council began allocating $10,000 in the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to reimburse the Parking Fund for events where the organizers request district-wide free parking. The transfer of funds from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund for these requests is made at the time of event approval by City Council. An increase of this amount to $16,000 is proposed by staff this year to address additional parking waiver events. 21 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 21 - The total amount allocated for these requests in FY 2025/26 was $349,487. Purpose Source FY 2025/26 Allocation General Outside Funding Requests Local Option Sales Tax Fund $ 324,487 Local Option Sales Tax Fund Total 324,487 Parking Waivers Hotel/Motel Tax Fund 10,000 AREA Workforce Initiatives Hotel/Motel Tax Fund 15,000 Hotel/Motel Tax Fund Total 25,000 TOTAL $ 349,487 The total Local Option Sales Tax Fund portion of the FY 2026/27 requests is $378,577, which is a 16.7% increase over the FY 2025/26 Local Option allocation. Similar to other funding requests supported by local option sales tax, staff is projecting a 2.5 percent increase in collections for FY 2026/27. Organization/Program FY 25/26 Adopted FY 26/27 Request $ Change % Change Ames Historical Society $ 59,500 $ 64,500 $ 5,000 8.4% Ames Int’l Partner City Ass’n 8,000 11,600 3,600 45.0% AREA (For Campustown Activities) 43,000 50,000 7,000 16.3% Hunziker Youth Sports Complex 94,250 103,000 8,750 9.3% Ames Main Street 55,500 65,000 9,500 17.1% Story County Housing Trust Fund 49,237 52,477 3,240 6.6% Farmers Market 12,000 12,000 - - American Legion 3,000 5,000 2,000 66.6% The Ames Foundation - 15,000 15,000 100% Local Option Tax Subtotal $ 324,487 $ 378,577 $ 54,090 16.7% Reserve for Parking Waivers 10,000 16,000 - - 22 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 22 - AREA Workforce Development 15,000 15,000 - - Hotel/Motel Tax Subtotal $ 25,000 $ 31,000 - - TOTAL $ 349,487 $ 409,577 $ 60,090 17.2% One new request was received this year, from The Ames Foundation. Excluding this request, the increase to the Local Option Sales Tax-funded requests is $39,090, or 12%. Highlights of the requests are summarized below:  The Ames Foundation – TAF is making a new request for $15,000, to support “Ames Murals: An Open-Air Gallery.” This project involves connecting property owners with artists to place murals on buildings in Ames. The funding will support the installation of murals on two downtown buildings this year.  Ames Main Street – Ames Main Street’s request is an increase of $9,500. The increase is largely associated with slight increases in the cost of several individual tasks, plus the inclusion of Witches Walk and 515 Days as specific reimbursable activities.  AREA (For Campustown Activities) – The increase for these activities is $7,000, attributed to more funding for clean-up and beautification activities ($5,000 total) and the addition of a holiday event in lieu of a restaurant/bar promotional event ($2,000 net increase).  AIPCA – The net increase in the AIPCA request is $3,600. The increase primarily results from coordinating delegation visits, including receiving delegations from both Koshu City, Japan and Podujevo, Kosovo, and sending delegations to both cities. The past practice has been to include the amount approved for the prior fiscal year in the recommended budget. The City Council is not being asked to evaluate or approve the merits of these requests at this time. Instead, City staff is seeking direction from the City Council regarding a total amount of Local Option funds available to be allocated for the coming year. The applications will be reviewed by staff with that budget authority in mind, and recommendations will be made to the City Council. As with other funding processes, a variety of options are available to the City Council: 23 FY 2026/27 Council Budget Issues - 23 - Local Option - Increase From Current ($324,487) Dollar Increase Amount Authorized 1% $ 3,245 $ 327,732 2% 6,490 330,977 3% 9,735 334,222 4% 12,979 337,466 5% 16,224 340,711 16.6% (all requests)* 54,090 378,577 *excludes AREA request and parking waiver requests, which would be funded from Hotel/Motel Tax Fund TOWN BUDGET MEETING On November 6, 2025, the annual Town Budget Meeting was held. Notes from the meeting are included as Attachment C to this document. ATTACHMENTS A. ASSET Funding Requests B. Outside Funding Requests C. Town Budget Meeting Minutes CITY COUNCIL’S INPUT (Given the information provided, the City Council’s input is requested.) Service Level Increases Service Level Decreases Other Issues 24 Attachment A: City of Ames - FY 2026/27 ASSET Requests Agency and Service Index Unit of Service 25/26 Final Contracted Amount 26/27 Request % Change 25/26 Contracted to 26/27 Request 26/27 Proposed Units of Service 26/27 Proposed Cost Per Unit - ALL ACCESS Emergency Shelter 2.08 24 Hr Period Food/Shelter 80,844$ 88,929$ 10%668 133.00$ Domestic Abuse Crisis and Support 3.07 Staff Hour 39,450$ 43,396$ 10%352 123.00$ Sexual Abuse Crisis and Support 3.08 Staff Hour 10,527$ 11,579$ 10%87 132.00$ Battering Court watch 3.10 Staff Hour 7,127$ 7,839$ 10%63 123.00$ Public Education and Awareness 1.12 Staff Hour 5,653$ 6,218$ 10%50 123.00$ 143,601$ 157,961$ 10% Ames Comm. Preschool Center Day Care - Infant 2.02 1 Full Day 30,250$ 31,460$ 4%418 75.25$ Day Care - Children 2.03 1 Full Day 45,670$ 55,670$ 22%925 60.18$ Day Care - School Age 2.04 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)45,670$ 45,670$ 0%2313 19.74$ 121,590$ 132,800$ 9% All Aboard for Kids - Now under The Arch Out of School Program 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs) Supported Employment Dev. Disabled 1.01 Staff Hour -$ American Red Cross Disaster Services Program 2.01 Client Contact 2,500$ -$ 0 3,640.73$ 2,500$ -$ Boys and Girls Club Out of School Program (Ames Club) 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)130,553$ 134,470$ 3%2497 53.85$ Out of School Program (Nevada Club) 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)-$ 0 68.33$ 130,553$ 134,470$ 3% Campfire Heart of Iowa Day Care- School Age 2.04 Day Care - School Age - Scholarships 2.04 Youth Development and Social Adjustment 1.07 Out of School Program 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)6,000$ 10,000$ 67%127 78.35$ 6,000$ 10,000$ 67% Center for Creative Justice Correctional Services - Probation Supervision 2.09 Client Hour 74,365$ 78,100$ 5%754 103.51$ Reentry Services - New for FY 26/27 3.13 1 Client Hour 30,000$ 434 69.00$ 74,365$ 108,100$ 31% ChildServe Day Care - Infant 2.02 1 Full Day 6,600$ 6,600$ 0%106 62.19$ Day Care - Children 2.03 1 Full Day 17,600$ 17,600$ 0%283 62.16$ 24,200$ 24,200$ 0% Bridge Home Rapid Re-Housing Emerg. Assistance for Basic Needs 2.01 Client Contact -$ 19,938$ 21 946.55$ Emergency Shelter 2.08 24 Hr Period Food/Shelter -$ 96,644$ 47 2,029.70$ Transitional Housing *Service Ending June 30, 2023*2.07 Supportive Housing 2.15 1 Day -$ 0 383.03$ Rapid Re-Housing Service Coordination 3.13 1 Client Hour -$ 5,982$ 171 34.83$ 122,564$ Creative Counseling Services Mental Health Outpatient Treatment - Gap to Growth - New Agency and Service for FY 26/27 3.17 Client Hour 39,026$ #DIV/0!414 94.17$ 39,026$ Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Out of School Program 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)-$ 0 28.07$ Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance Emergency Assistance for Rent and Utilities 2.01 Client Contact 42,280$ 46,508$ 10%72 641.19$ Healthy Food Vouchers 2.01 Client Contact 10,350$ 10,400$ 0%123 84.19$ Emergency Assistance - Navigator 2.01 Client Hour 1,739$ 1,826$ 5%4 383.77$ 54,369$ 58,734$ 8% Heartland Senior Services Day Care - Adults , Adult Day Center 3.02 Client Day 67,600$ 78,600$ 16%774 101.42$ Congregate Meals 3.06 Home Delivered Meals 3.05 Meals 100,000$ 96,500$ -4%6241 15.46$ Home Delivered Meals Under 60 Program 3.05 Meals Senior Food Program 2.01 Client Contact 4,668$ 4,668$ 0%313 14.89$ Service Coordination - Outreach 3.13 Client Hour 50,100$ 49,100$ -2%481 101.91$ Activity and Resource Center 3.14 Client Contact 222,368$ 228,868$ 3% HIRTA Transportation - City 2.13 One-Way Trip 49,359$ 50,840$ 3%1733 29.32$ Transportation - Story County 2.13 One-Way Trip -$ 0 293.05$ 49,359$ 50,840$ 3% Legal Aid Society of Story County Legal Aid - Society , Legal Aid - Civil 2.10 Staff Hour 160,000$ 163,800$ 2%786 208.38$ 160,000$ 163,800$ 2% 1 25 Attachment A: City of Ames - FY 2026/27 ASSET Requests Agency and Service Index Unit of Service 25/26 Final Contracted Amount 26/27 Request % Change 25/26 Contracted to 26/27 Request 26/27 Proposed Units of Service 26/27 Proposed Cost Per Unit - ALL Lutheran Services in Iowa Crisis Intervention - Crisis Child Care - Discontinuing 6/26 3.09 Contact 2,000$ -100% Family Development/Education 1.10 Client Hour -$ 0 253.00$ Parents as Teachers 1.10 Client Hour -$ 0 251.02$ *New Service* Clothing, Furnishings, & Other - HOPES Village 2.11 Client Contact -$ 0 250.80$ 2,000$ -$ -100% Mary Greeley Home Health Services Community Clinics and Health Education 3.01 Clinic Hour 17,878$ 17,878$ 0%57 310.82$ In Home Nursing: RN Skilled Nursing 3.12 Visit -$ 0 478.94$ In Home Hospice: Home Based Hospice 3.15 Day (24 Hour)-$ 0 227.15$ In-Home Health Assistance 3.04 Hours 16,300$ 16,300$ 0%196 82.96$ 34,178$ 34,178$ 0% MICA Food Pantry 2.01 Client Contact 35,000$ 38,000$ 9%2314 16.42$ Service Coordination - Child Health - New for FY 26/27 3.13 Client Hour 7,548$ 13 573.01$ Service Coordination - Healthy Child Care/CCNC - New for FY 26/27 3.13 Client Hour 3,436$ 3 902.19$ Service Coordination - Maternal Health - New for FY 26/27 3.13 Client Hour 8,152$ 6 1,165.17$ Service Coordination - Child and Adult Food Care Program - New for FY 26/27 3.13 Client Hour 3,954$ 13 292.93$ 35,000$ 61,090$ 75% NAMI Public Education and Awareness - NAMI On Campus 1.12 Staff Hour -$ 0 401.38$ Activity and Resource Center 3.14 Staff Hour 12,400$ 18,000$ 45%41 437.85$ Advocacy for Social Development - Family and Peer Support, Connections, Family Support Group, Peer Support 1.02 Staff Hour 550$ 2,000$ 264%17 115.59$ Public Education and Awareness - Ending the Silence 1.12 Staff Hour 13,400$ 16,000$ 19%2 7,329.00$ Advocacy for Social Support - Family and Peer Education, F2F, P2P, WRAP 1.02 Staff Hour 1,200$ 3,000$ 150%14 210.72$ 27,550$ 39,000$ 42% Nevada Food at First Emergency Assistance for Basic Material Needs - ESC Food Access - New Agency and Service for FY 26/27 2.01 Client Contact 2.47$ Prairie Flower Day Care - Children - Morning Song and Day Song 2.03 1 Full Day 9,000$ 27,217$ 202%473 57.54$ Day Care - School Age - PoemTree 2.04 1 Partial Day (3 hours)6,300$ 16,632$ 164%830 20.03$ 15,300$ 43,849$ 187% Primary Health Care Dental Clinic 3.01 Clinic Hour 88,382$ 100,262$ 13%324 308.50$ Community Clinics - Pediatrics, OB/GYN and Behavioral 3.01 Clinic Hour 4,606$ 27,355$ 494%100 273.55$ Service Coordination - Dental Navigator - Discontinued 3.13 Client Hour 2,400$ -100% 95,388$ 127,617$ 34% Raising Readers Family Development/Education - STARS/Small Talk, Story Pals, Playful Pages 1.10 Client Hour 14,035$ 14,885$ 6%82 180.31$ Public Education and Awareness 1.12 Staff Hour 3,700$ 5,000$ 35%29 169.14$ Advocacy for Social Development 1.02 Staff Hour Out-of-School Program - Reading Buddies 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hours)20,073$ 21,100$ 5%113 186.57$ 37,808$ 40,985$ 8% Central Iowa RSVP Disaster Services - Volunteer Management for Emergencies 2.12 Staff Hour 8,000$ 8,000$ 0%399 20.02$ Transportation - Volunteer Transportation Program 2.13 One-Way Trip 2,200$ 2,400$ 9%142 16.90$ Volunteer Management - Volunteer Management for 55+1.11 Volunteer Hour 27,150$ 26,600$ -2%5028 5.29$ 37,350$ 37,000$ -1% Story Time Childcare Day Care - Infant 2.02 Full Day -$ 0 7.04$ Day Care - Children 2.03 Full Day -$ 0 43.34$ The Arc of Story County Special Recreation - Active Lifestyles 3.19 Participant Hour 5,700$ 14,000$ 146%1287 10.87$ Respite Care 3.11 Client Hour 4,200$ 4,500$ 7%285 15.76$ Advocacy for Social Development 1.02 Staff Hour -$ 0 21.30$ Service Coordination 3.13 Client Hour 1,500$ 1,700$ 13%101 16.67$ Supported Employment Dev. Disabled - Project SEARCH - New for FY 26/27 1.01 Staff Hour 10,000$ 124 80.64$ Supported Employment Dev. Disabled - Future Focus *Formerly Under All Aboard for Kids*1.01 Staff Hour 4,374$ 5,000$ 14%247 20.21$ Out of School Program - STEAM Academy *New to Arc-Formerly Under All Aboard for Kids*1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)12,213$ 18,000$ 47%102 176.40$ 27,987$ 53,200$ 90% The Community Academy Out of School Program 1.09 1 Partial Day (3 hrs)1,500$ 8,000$ 433%40 198.76$ Youth Development and Social Adjustment - Summer Experience 1.07 Client Contact/Day 15,000$ 45,000$ 200%266 168.86$ 16,500$ 53,000$ 221% 2 26 Attachment A: City of Ames - FY 2026/27 ASSET Requests Agency and Service Index Unit of Service 25/26 Final Contracted Amount 26/27 Request % Change 25/26 Contracted to 26/27 Request 26/27 Proposed Units of Service 26/27 Proposed Cost Per Unit - ALL The Salvation Army Emergency Asst. for Basic Material Needs (Food Pantry)2.01 Client Contact 26,000$ 35,000$ 35%213 163.76$ Emergency Asst. for Basic Material Needs (Homeless Prev - Rent/Utility Assistance)2.01 Client Contact 45,000$ 50,000$ 11%95 522.03$ Disaster Services 2.12 Staff Hour 1,200$ 1,500$ 25%3 438.54$ Representative Payee Services 2.14 Client Contact 21,000$ 23,000$ 10%1216 18.90$ Emergency Shelter - Hotel Vouchers 2.08 24 Period Food/Shelter 120,000$ 140,000$ 17%1243 112.55$ Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 2.01 Client Contact 4,000$ 5,000$ 25%11 422.33$ 217,200$ 254,500$ 17% University Community Childcare Day Care - Infant 2.02 Full Day 55,902$ 61,492$ 10%521 117.96$ Day Care - Children 2.03 Full Day 58,773$ 64,650$ 10%900 71.83$ Day Care - School Age 2.04 Partial Day -$ 0 42.75$ Day Care - Preschool 1.06 Partial Day -$ 0 68.36$ 114,675$ 126,142$ 10% YWCA - No longer an ASSET Agency Youth Development and Social Adjustment (Girl Power)1.07 Client Contact/Day Informal Education for Self-Improvement 1.04 Client Contact Parent and Student Support 1.02 Staff Hour Youth and Shelter Services Substance Abuse Treatment - Outpatient 3.16 Client Hour 8,000$ 8,000$ 0%32 243.15$ Primary Treatment /Health Maintenance Family Counseling 3.17 Client Hour 55,752$ 55,752$ 0%286 194.76$ Emergency Assistance for Basic Needs - Transitional Living Services 2.07 1 Day 30,000$ 30,900$ 3%232 132.84$ Emergency Shelter - Rosedale *DISCONTINUED*2.08 24 Hr Period Food/Shelter -$ Crisis Intervention - Crisis and Diversion Hotline 3.09 Contact 3,250$ 45 72.22$ Storks Nest *DISCONTINUED*2.11 Client Contact Youth Dev and Social Adjustment - Mentoring 1.07 Client Contact/Day 63,000$ 63,000$ 0%583 107.96$ Youth Dev and Social Adjustment - Community Youth Dev 1.07 Client Contact/Day 23,000$ 24,150$ 5%384 62.78$ Employment Assistance for Youth - Skills 1.08 Staff Hour 5,253$ 5,500$ 5%27 198.00$ Out of School Program - Summer Enrichment 1.09 Partial Day (3 hrs)13,270$ 27,500$ 107%1575 17.46$ Family Development/Education - Pathways, FADSS *DISCONTINUED*1.10 Public Education/ Awareness 1.12 Staff Hour 15,286$ 15,750$ 3%107 146.50$ Day Care - School Age - Kids Club (Excludes Colo-Nesco)2.04 Partial Day (3 hrs)-$ 0 24.26$ Emergency Asst for Basic Needs - Rapid Rehousing 2.01 Client Contact 10,000$ 75 131.92$ Public Education/ Awareness - Child Safety *DISCONTINUED*1.12 Staff Hour Service Coordination 3.13 Staff Hour 11,332$ 11,332$ 0%160 70.52$ 224,893$ 255,134$ 13% Grand Total 1,874,734$ 2,357,058$ 26% 3 27 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 28 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 29 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 30 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 31 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 32 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 33 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 34 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 35 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 36 Ames History Museum Application, City of Ames FY 2026-27 Notes: TASK LIST on Page 3 – Most tasks listed are ongoing throughout the year. We will compile each quarter’s portion of completed tasks and request approximately 1/4 of the funding each quarter. All listed tasks will be completed by 6/30/27. BUDGET SECTION AHM financial reports are kept by calendar year on a cash basis. On our application, Column A is 2023 actual revenue and expenses, Column B is 2024 actual revenue and expenses, Column C is 2025 approved budget, and Column D is proposed budget for 2026. Line 9 – Misc. includes museum store sales, bank interest, and transfers from cash reserves. Line 10 – Funding Request: Because our Jan-Dec fiscal year overlaps with the City’s July-June fiscal year, the figures on this line represent the sum of half the money from two fiscal years. Line 17 – Misc. includes expenses associated with programs, events, exhibitions, collections, and transfers to building maintenance reserve. 37 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 38 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 39 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 40 Travis Toliver, IOM Executive Director travis@amesalliance.com 304 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010 | 515.233.3472 | AmesDowntown.org Ames Main Street advances and promotes Downtown Ames as the heart of the Ames community. Ames Main Street, Outside Funding Request FY 2026/2027 What are the goals of this program/event: The Ames Main Street Program’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Ames as a destination for living, working, playing through shopping, dining, socializing and entertainment; promoting historic preservation and building development through facade work and upper-story housing, and renovation; recruiting and retaining new businesses; organizing events and promotions that increase customer and community engagement with the businesses that should result in higher tax revenue for the City of Ames. The AMS Promotions Committee and events team have re-evaluated each existing program or event and took into consideration their value, return on investment to business owners in the district, and community participation. For 2026, one new retail event has been added: Holiday Open House to allow businesses to showcase their new holiday products for the season. 2026 & 2027 Listing of Events EVENT NAMES 2026 DATES Winter Sidewalk Sales January 8-11 Heart of Ames February (all month) 515 Days May 15 Art Walk June 11 July 4th Parade July 4 Summer Sidewalk Sales July 9-12 Music Walk September 17 Witches Walk October 8 Downtown Trick-or-Treat October 30 Holiday Open House November 5-8 Small Business Weekend November 27-30 Snow Magic Kick-Off Event December 3 41 Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 1. Fulfill Requirements to maintain Ames as an MSI community, including seeking and managing grants ($15,000) 2. Serve as a point of contact regarding downtown public policy issues and inform property owners and tenants about policy changes, construction projects, and other issues that may affect downtown ($10,000) 3. Maintain a current building and business inventory, district statistics, per the requirements of the MSI Program ($4,000) 4. Conduct public right-of-way beautification efforts ($10,000) • Weed control throughout all downtown and the south public parking lots • Spring planting of downtown planters • Holiday décor in planters and maintenance of the snowflakes on light polls 5. Host July 4th Parade ($4,000) • The 4th of July Parade is one of the largest events of the summer and a community favorite which requires several volunteers who are paid through Community Cash for their time and efforts. • This event attracts 5,000+ people to the sidewalks of both Main St. and 5th St. each year 6. Host Music Walk & Witches Walk ($3,000 each) • The Music Walk draws a diverse crowd to Main Street by pairing live local musicians with downtown shops, restaurants, and bars. This event encourages visitors to explore multiple businesses, increases foot traffic during the evening hours, and helps introduce new customers to stores they might not otherwise visit. • The Witches Walk generates one of the largest turnouts of the year, bringing families, groups of friends, and costumed participants downtown for themed shopping, dining, and activities. Many businesses see significant sales boosts and increased visibility from the festive atmosphere and social media engagement surrounding the event. 7. Host Snow Magic ($4,000) • Many downtown retailers and restaurants experience increased traffic and sales as visitors linger to shop, dine, and enjoy the holiday spirit. Beyond the immediate economic benefit, Snow Magic helps strengthen customer loyalty, introduces new visitors to the district, and reinforces Downtown Ames as the heart of the community during the holidays. 8. Host 515 Day ($5,000) and ArtWalk ($3,000) • 515 Day celebrates community pride and local business by encouraging residents to “shop, sip, and support local.” The event drives steady foot traffic throughout the district, helping businesses increase sales while building stronger connections with their customers. It also highlights the value of supporting small, independent shops and restaurants that make Ames unique. 42 • The Art Walk transforms downtown into an open-air gallery, pairing local artists with businesses to display their work. This creative collaboration draws art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike, generating significant pedestrian activity and showcasing t he vibrancy of the downtown district. Businesses benefit from new visitors, extended dwell time, and an enhanced community and culture. 9. Hosting (4) retail events: Summer Sidewalk Sales, Holiday Open House, Small Business Weekend, Winter Sidewalk Sales ($1,000 each) • These four key retail events provide consistent, year -round opportunities for Downtown Ames businesses to boost sales and attract new customers. Each event encourages shoppers to explore multiple stores, take advantage of special promotions, and engage directly with local merchants. Together, they help sustain strong retail activity, strengthen customer loyalty, and reinforce Downtown Ames as a vibrant shopping destination in every season. 10. Asking for free parking in Downtown for (4) Saturdays in one calendar year. ($1,375 ea. = $5,500 total) We are requesting funding to allow for free parking for the following events, which we have included in item (9). - January, Winter Sidewalk Sales (one day) - July, Summer Sidewalk Sales (one day) - November, Holiday Open House (one day) - November, Small Business Saturday (one day) Other retail events (5) we are hosting, but will not ask for free parking in Downtown District: - February, Heart of Ames, specials in businesses and discounts all month - June, Art Walk, business specials night of event - September, Music Walk, business specials night of event - October, Witches Walk, business specials night of event - December, Snow Magic Kick-Off, business specials night of event We believe a teaser of free parking incentivizes Downtown patrons to come support the businesses for an event, turns them into long-term customers, and gives retailers the opportunity to showcase where additional parking opportunities are located. We are asking for a total of $65,000 to be allocated to the program with $5,500 to be provided to pay for parking in Downtown Ames. 43 44 45 46 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 47 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 48 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 49 Ames Regional Economic Alliance – Campustown, Outside Funding Request FY 2025/2026 What are the goals of this program/event: The Ames Regional Economic Alliance will continue our program of work for the Campustown district in 2026 which will include clean up and beautification throughout the year. The Alliance will implement several community and retail events within the district, while also serving as the Point of Contact for the City of Ames inside the district. Finally, the Alliance will be the organization promoting the City of Ames Facade Grant Program, as well as serve as point of contact for public policy issues, construction updates, and events both managed by the Alliance and outside groups. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: The funding will assist in accomplishing several goals of improving the Campustown district. The City's funding, along with private funding and a financial allocation from Iowa State University, will allow for consistent clean up, fresh banners on light poles, and other plants and flowers that will aesthetically enhance the district. We will also implement several events, some with the community and residents in mind, some with the Iowa State University students in mind. We will also work to maintain the highest level of communication possible with stakeholders in the Campustown area, working closely with building owners, business owners, to keep them apprised of the facade grant program and maintaining a rapid response to street closures and other needs of the city when it impacts the Campustown area. In addition to our event support, we ask for the waiver of parking meters for Small Business Saturday. By removing the parking fees for one day, this incentivizes Campustown patrons to come support the businesses for an event, turns them into long-term customers, and gives retailers the opportunity to showcase where additional parking opportunities are located. This is valued at $1,500. 2026 & 2027 Listing of Events EVENT NAMES 2026-27 DATES Summer Event (Taste of Campustown) June or July, 2026 Fall Retail Event (Campustown Fall Classic) October or November, 2026 Small Business Weekend November 27-30 Holiday Retail Event December, 2026 Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 1. Districtwide clean up and beautification – Ongoing ($25,000 in two instalments) 2. Serve as a point of contact regarding Campustown public policy issues and inform property owners and tenants about policy changes, construction projects, and other issues that may affect downtown ($5,000) 50 3. Host Summer Event ($7,500) • Taste of Campustown is a new signature event designed to showcase the district as a vibrant destination for the entire Ames community. By bringing together the diverse flavors, cultures, and experiences that define Campustown, this event invites residents, summer students, and visitors to explore local restaurants, cafés, and retailers in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Centered around food, culture, and community connection, Taste of Campustown will highlight the unique character of the district while generating increased foot traffic and economic activity for businesses. This event aims to strengthen the community’s perception of Campustown as a place to gather, dine, shop, and discover something new while ultimately enhancing visibility and supporting long-term growth throughout the district. 4. Host Fall Retail Event ($5,000) • The Campustown Fall Classic brings energy and foot traffic to the district by inviting participants to shop, dine, and explore while playing a themed mini-golf course set up inside businesses throughout Campustown. This interactive format encourages people to visit multiple storefronts, discover new favorites, and engage directly with local merchants. As attendees move from hole to hole, businesses benefit from increased visibility, higher customer engagement, and boosted sales during the event. The Fall Classic not only creates a fun, family-friendly experience but also strengthens the connection between the community and Campustown’s vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and services. 5. Host Small Business Weekend ($2,500) & Free Parking on Saturday ($1,500) • Small Business Weekend brings focused attention and increased foot traffic to Campustown by encouraging residents and visitors to shop and dine locally on one of the biggest retail weekends of the year. Participating businesses benefit from heightened visibility, expanded marketing support, and a surge of shoppers seeking unique gifts, local goods, and authentic dining experiences. The event reinforces the importance of supporting small, independent businesses while driving sales, introducing customers to new favorites, and showcasing Campustown as a welcoming, energetic destination for holiday shopping and community connection. 6. Host Holiday Retail Event ($5,000) • Launching a new holiday retail event in Campustown offers an exciting opportunity to attract shoppers during a key purchasing season and introduce the district as a festive, convenient destination for gift buying and winter dining. By creating a cheerful, activity-filled atmosphere, the event encourages residents and visitors to explore local shops, discover unique offerings, and support small businesses. We anticipate that this event will boost foot traffic, increase sales, and strengthen customer relationships during the holidays—helping businesses reach new audiences and positioning Campustown as a vibrant, community-centered place to shop, celebrate, and connect. 51 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 52 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 53 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 54 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 55 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A) (B) (C) (D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses 56 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 57 Please find below how additional funding from the City of Ames will help the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex (HYSC) help the city of Ames accomplish its goals. Increasing Access for All Community Members & Creating Space for Healthy Activity With a generous grant from the City of Ames, HYSC will be able to offset additional expenses for operating the complex, including field/greens maintenance, equipment and building upkeep. This funding helps all sports keep our registration fees lower. This helps each sport pursue our goal of increasing participation from community members of all socioeconomic statuses. Expanding Capacity for Connecting the Community Through Activities Additional funding will expand HYSC's capacity for the management and coordination of event planning (current and new), event hosting and the requisite maintenance and management activities required with operating the complex in a well maintained and inviting capacity. The 2025 Ames Youth Baseball day was an incredible success and we are discussing as a board how we might expand that event to include all three sport organizations in 2026. Generating Positive Economic Impact on Ames This increased capacity will continue to seed opportunities for increased participation by other community sports groups as well as make the complex a more attractive environment for other sporting events, bringing families from outside the community to Ames––generating a positive economic impact to the community. We believe this more attractive environment will make Ames more appealing for those looking to move to a new community. In addition to each sport organization’s events that draw teams from outside Ames, we continue to engage with Discover Ames for the purpose of utilizing the complex to bring new competitions, tournaments and visitors to Ames. We also continue to host the Iowa Games soccer competitions on an annual basis, and other tournaments hosted by Ames Soccer Club. HYSC has historically made a significant contribution to the youth sports community of Ames and is poised to make an even more substantial impact in the years ahead. We are excited to continue to partner with the city in this capacity. We are willing to expand on the progress being made in each of these areas, if desired. Nathan Haila - HYSC Board President HYSC Board Members: Gary Eyles, David Dear, Trent Brisby, Ryan Cable 58 v.10.17.25 Outside Funding Request Process Application Application Information Is this request sponsored by a student organization? Yes _______ No _______ Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________ Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________________ Contact Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________ Email Address: _________________________ Tax ID #: __________ Program/Event Information What are the goals of this program/event: _______________________________________________ Date(s) program/event will be held: _____________ to ____________ Check if continuous or ongoing: __________ Location of program/event: __________________________________________________________ # of individuals involved in program/event planning: __________________ # of individuals who will benefit from program/event: ________________ Funding amount requested: __________________________________________________________ Has the City of Ames funded this program/event before? __________________ If yes, what year was it last funded? ___________ If yes, what amount of funding was received? __________ Program/Event Description Please answer each question below using the space provided. Explain how this request helps accomplish the goals of this program/event. If you are requesting an increase in funding from the last funding cycle, include an explanation of the enhanced or expanded services you intend to provide with the additional funding: 59 v.10.17.25 What efforts have you made to obtain funding from other sources? Include fundraising, dues, and any requests to other City- sponsored programs (e.g., ASSET, COTA, Ames Community Grants Program) Who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the funding contract? What are their qualifications? Budget Complete your activity budget below with previous fiscal years in columns A, B, and C, and your grant request from the City of Ames in box D10. (A)(B)(C)(D) REVENUE - ALL SOURCES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 1 Fundraising 2 Membership Dues 3 Fees Charged 4 Investment Income 5 Grants (Private Sector) 6 State/Federal Funds 7 ISU or ISU Student Government Funds 8 Other Gov't or Non-Profit Funds 9 Misc. (Describe): 10 Funding Request from City of Ames 11 Total Revenues EXPENSES FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY 26-27 ACTUAL ACTUAL ADOPTED PROPOSED 12 Salary and Related 13 Occupancy/Rent 14 Supplies/Equipment 15 Contractual Services 16 Promotion/Advertising 17 Misc. (Describe): 18 Total Expenses IFA funded Admin 60 v.10.17.25 Proposed Task/Drawdown Schedule Funds awarded must be used to benefit the general public. On the lines below, describe the tasks you plan to complete using requested funds, the anticipated task completion date, and the amount you will request in reimbursement for that task. The total should add up to your funding request. Tasks below should be services and programs that will be provided to the public (e.g., individual events, educational programs, improvements to public spaces, etc.). Tasks should not include costs that primarily benefit the organization (e.g., administrative expenses, overhead, rent, utilities, etc.). The organization should consider such internal costs in the overall cost of providing the specific service or program. Prioritize the tasks proposed in this list, with the tasks the organization would most like to receive funding for towards the top. Priority Task Participants Completion Date Amount 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL: Disclaimer and Submission By typing in my name below, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named herein. Name: ___________________________________ Title: ________________ Date: ___________ Submit completed applications to the City Manager’s Office, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to be considered for funding. 61 62 63 64 Town Budget Meeting Minutes November 6, 2025 Less  None More  Event Center @ Linc Development  Pioneer infrastructure incentives  Industrial development  Housing units downtown o Workforce housing o Diverse housing options  Downtown Vision 65