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1. What are the immediate and long-term benefits of home rule for the City?

The  immediate  and  long‐term  benefits  of  home  rule  is  the  ability  to  raise  different  types  of  revenue  through  sources  other   than  property  tax   and  to  self‐govern   via  programs  like   the  crime‐free  housing program. The ability to create different types of revenue allows for the tax burden to spread outside of the community by collecting taxes from people who shop and dine in our City.  

In addition, the City has the ability to issue debt fairly quickly and easily. Being  home  rule  saves  on  interest  costs  that  taxpayers ultimately pay.   

Home Rule does not affect projects that are approved or budgetary spending except for that it allows for revenue options to provide for spending.  The main difference in home rule aside from revenue options is the property tax cap which was mentioned previously, which limits increases and the way in which debt  is  issued.   A  non‐home  rule  community  must  put  general  obligation  bonds  to  referendum  and  alternate revenue bonds through a back‐door referendum process. Debt along with a request for non‐home  rule   sales  tax  and  an  increase   over  the  property   tax  cap  are   generally  the  only   times  that  a referendum would be put to vote by a non‐home rule community.   

2. Does Home Rule give the city government the ability to spend as it sees fit without a vote from voters?

No. Home  rule  does  not  provide  spending  authority.   The  budget  provides  the  annual  spending  authority.  The City Council approves resolutions for contracts and large purchases. 

3. With home rule do you need a referendum to increase salaries for City administrative personnel?

No, a referendum is not needed with or without home rule.  The budget provides spending authority each year.  Salaries are also authorized via union contracts and a Wage and Salary Ordinance for non‐union employees.