The City of Indianola held a budget work session at their meeting Monday, which included an hours-long discussion regarding the distribution of the hotel/motel taxes brought into the community.

The council heard from representatives from Indianola Main Street, the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, Warren County Economic Development, and the Kiya Koda Humane Society among others. The council gave direction to city staff to uphold an agreement with Indianola Main Street for $45,000, and split up the remaining approximately $22,000 for others after commitments to the Indianola Wellness Campus for Capital Improvement Projects in addition to Indianola Parks and Rec.

Interim City Manager Wade Wagoner said during the meeting House File 718, among many other pieces of legislation over the years, is limiting the city’s ability to provide funding for crucial entities that help the city, and he suggests citizens who have issues with potential job loss for city workers or programs being cut should talk to their legislators.

“It’s a disheartening situation, and the problems we have are multifold. But all of this vitriolic ire that I heard tonight needs to be directed right there, right there at the gold dome. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.”

The council gave notice to the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau that they would no longer provide a portion of funding after FY26, which is expected to bring some savings to be further distributed to other local entities. The council will continue to have budget discussions, with their next regularly scheduled meeting taking place on March 17th.