Des Moines Public Library supporters filled the City Council chambers Monday morning to support the library ahead of potential budget cuts, but city officials questioned: If they don't cut there, then where?

The big picture: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law yesterday capping property tax revenue growth at 2% annually, forcing the city to consider cuts on services across the board.

State of play: City staff are holding budget meetings roughly six months earlier than usual, projecting a $12 million shortfall in fiscal year 2028, and growing to $17 million the following year.

• The cuts would go into place July 1, 2027.
• "This is not our doing. This is what our state has given us," Mayor Connie Boesen said.

Flashback: GOP lawmakers cited homeowners' growing bills as a driving force behind the new law.

• For most local governments, those dollars cover everything from public safety to libraries to parks.

Friction point: Des Moines' general fund, which pays for most public services, makes up about $242–250 million of its nearly $1 billion annual budget.

• Councilman Rob Barron asked City Manager Scott Sanders if he expected cuts to be proportional to each department. Sanders said they would not be initially, noting that public safety makes up roughly 60% of the city's general fund.
• Since the cuts aren't equal, Barron said, he expects the forthcoming budget conversations to be "very political" and wants it to be a "tremendously public process," especially as the council decides who faces what cuts.

Zoom out: Des Moines isn't alone in facing budget pressure from the new cap.

• Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy spoke with the Clive City Council last week, noting that law enforcement alone makes up $100 million of the county's budget, and while revenue growth is constrained, the costs of wages, health insurance, retirement and overtime are not.

Between the lines: Unlike newer suburbs that can generate additional tax base by building on vacant land, Des Moines is in a rebuilding phase, redoing roads, bridges and levees, with fewer financial levers left to pull, Boesen says.

What's next: The city laid out a timeline for the FY 2028 budget review:

• June 17: Budget workshop for council and staff to review potential savings options across all departments
• July–August: Public meetings and an online survey where residents can weigh in on spending priorities
• September–October: Council direction to the city manager on cuts and potential new revenue sources
• November: Final budget recommendations before the December property tax valuation deadline

Construction of a nearly $7.1 million mass timber townhome project near Drake University could begin next year.

Why it matters: It would be among the city's first townhome developments to use the building method that relies on engineered wood rather than steel and concrete, Molly Cutler of Cutler Development tells Axios.

Driving the news: The Des Moines City Council last month approved a $640,000 preliminary award to the project at 3125 Kingman Blvd.

• It's being co-developed by Cutler and the nonprofit Home Inc. on land owned by Invest DSM.

Zoom in: Mass timber is glued and pressed in specialized ways to make it comparable in strength to concrete and steel.

• It's lighter than concrete, is designed to meet strict fire-resistance standards and can add aesthetic appeal to people who like exposed wood.
• International building code changes in recent years have allowed the material to be used in increasingly larger projects.

State of play: Cutler has used mass timber in multiple metro projects, including Star Lofts and the ongoing construction of Goldfinch Lofts, both along Ingersoll Avenue.

Catch up quick: The project site was previously a multi-unit home damaged in a 2021 fire and demolished last year by Invest DSM as part of a broader revitalization effort.

Reality check: The project still needs to secure final financing approvals and complete additional design work before construction can begin.

Yes, but: The project's financing model already assumes today's higher interest rates and includes backup funding options, Cutler said.

What's next: The City Council is expected to finalize agreements in the coming months, with homes opening as early as spring 2028.

Winnebago RVs, an iconic and familiar sight in Iowa, are a prevalent feature in the latest Iowa artist exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center.

Why it matters: Sioux City-born artist Henry Payer uses images of the RV as a reflection of himself and his tribe, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

State of play: Winnebago RV co-opted the tribe's name to evoke a sense of freedom and mobility, he tells the art center.

• But Payer says he uses images of the RV in his art to symbolize the repeated forced relocations and temporary living conditions his ancestors endured.

If you go: Payer's exhibit is on display until June 17. Admission is free.

🧑‍⚖️ Three environmental groups are suing the EPA to reinstate seven Iowa waterways that they say were inappropriately removed from the state's Impaired Water List. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🚰 Polk County launched a public education campaign and website about the safety of local water for consumption and recreation. (WHO-radio)

👀 Former DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts was in an "amorous" relationship with a consultant he hired for the district, according to a state audit. (Des Moines Register🔒)

⭐️ Today's headline maker: Axios DSM reader Steve Gust

Last week we wrote about problems with scofflaws on recreational trail detours and safety concerns.

State of play: Reader Sophie Hill wrote to us, saying those in charge should take some responsibility for the trespassing.

• "Trail detours should not last from April through September, peak season, let alone years," Hill wrote, noting the 18-month closure at Gray's Lake.

The other side: Temporarily reopening trails during construction is usually unsafe and impractical, Colby Fangman, Des Moines' deputy senior park planner, tells Axios.

• Even seemingly inactive sites can have open excavations, exposed utilities, uneven surfaces, equipment or other hazards, he said.

The bottom line: There are no shortcuts around the detours.

• Gray's Lake Park marina and playground projects are nearly complete, and the trail is expected to reopen by the end of this month.