Data centers in Waukee, Iowa

Waukee City Council and Dallas County Assessor public record on the Apple data center property tax abatement valuation error that reduced Waukee school and municipal revenue by $5.3 million (August 25, 2022).

1. ▶ 0:36 to 1:15 Waukee City Council Hearing Speaker Developer Representative transcribed from the official recording Copy clip link

   "IT WAS CONCERNING, RIGHT? PROBABLY OTHER WORDS THAT ARE MORE STARTLING IN MY MIND. WAUKEE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR BRAD BUCK SAYS HE CAN’T SAY SOME OF THOSE WORDS ON TV, BUT THEY DID CROSS HIS MIND WHEN HE FOUND OUT HIS BUDGET WILL LOSE MORE THAN $2 MILLION THIS YEAR. THIS IS JUST A CRAZY, UNUSUAL THING THAT THE TOTAL VALUATION OF YOUR DISTRICT WOULD CHANGE MIDSTREAM. BUCK SAYS HE FIRST HEARD THE BAD NEWS A FEW WEEKS AGO. HE SAYS ORIGINALLY, DALLAS COUNTY VALUED THE NEW APPLE DATA CENTER ON THE WEST EDGE OF WAUKEE AT $192 MILLION FOR TAX PURPOSES, BUT SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THEY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THE"

2. ▶ 1:14 to 1:48 Waukee City Council Hearing Speaker Elected Official transcribed from the official recording Copy clip link

   "VALUATION IS MORE LIKE $60 MILLION. THAT MEANS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL LOSE $2.3 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET, SINCE THAT MONEY IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, BUCK SAYS THEY WILL HAVE TO CUT SOME FUTURE PROGRAMS. HE SAYS CURRENT STAFF AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. IT’S GOING TO COME THIS MOMENT WHERE WE’RE GOING TO BE SITUATED TO DO A LITTLE DREAMING AND REALLY EXPAND SOME OPPORTUNITIES, EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS. AND NOW THAT’S AT LEAST ON HOLD FOR ANOTHER YEAR. WE’RE ALSO LEARNING THE CITY OF WAUKEE WILL LOSE MORE THAN $3 MILLION FROM ITS BUDGET AFTER THE APPLE DATA CENTER VALUE CHANGE."

3. ▶ 1:53 to 2:18 Resident public comment Resident Public Comment transcribed from the official recording Copy clip link

   "THE CITY HAS A RESERVE FUND TO COVER SOME OF THOSE LOSSES. IT ALL PROBABLY AFFECTS SOME PROJECTS IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TIMELINE. SO LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE ROADS, EXACTLY WHAT. YET WE HAVE TO DETERMINE. NOW, BUCK SAYS HE PLANS TO ASK STATE LAWMAKERS TO GET SOME OF THAT LOST FUNDING BACK. HE SAYS THE DISTRICT IS ALSO DISCUSSING ITS LEGAL OPTIONS IN THIS CASE. BY THE WAY, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO DALLAS COUNTY. WE’RE WAITI"