Note: The agenda lists this meeting as February 10, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is February 11, 2026. The content below reflects the transcript of the event.
The City of Auburn Economic Development Commission (EDC) hosted a community town hall on February 11, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn. The event, titled "How Do We Spend Our Dollar?," aimed to engage residents, business owners, and community leaders in a discussion about local spending, sales tax generation, and strategies to strengthen Auburn’s economic and cultural vitality. The evening featured an opening presentation by Mayor Kelly Davis, a moderated panel discussion, and interactive audience participation via QR code polling.
You guys, we are so grateful to have you. Your input is so important to us. This is not for branding. We are not here to brand Auburn. We are really here to define the experiences that are of Auburn. So we want to really engage in what those experiences look like. And then how can we help bring in either outside people or make sure that these activities and these experiences are accessible to our residents? Um, so we will have a series of four town halls quarterly, and all of that information will be taken and then used to help market Auburn to raise our sales tax. Because that's what we want is more money. So without further ado, welcome. Thank you for spending this evening with us. If you're online, thank you so much. Uh, we will tell you this again. But as we bring in the panel, you will actually be able to interact and participate in this by scanning these QR codes. Don't scan them yet because you won't see anything. However, you're gonna be able to scan these and interact with the panel in their discussion. So your answers will be up here on the slides, and our panel will be able to answer the questions depending on your answer. That makes sense. Cool. Without further ado, I would love y'all to welcome our Madam Mayor, Miss Kelly Davis. Thank you, Jamie. If we can give Jamie a round of applause as well. She is a rock star. She just recently took over as chair of our economic development commission. And I will tell you what she's bringing all of her force to it. So thank you all for coming. It's great to have you. I didn't write a speech because I think maybe it'll feel a little bit better. Um my purpose is to introduce you guys to why we're here, what we're doing, and give you a little bit of background about how money is working in our community or not working, and um kind of give you some background before our panel takes over and we do the interacting. So other orders business, please silence your cell phones, put them in your pockets, whatever. If you need to leave and go to the restroom, please do. Um, but no food in here. You can have water. Um, but if you need to walk out, we won't be offended. Okay, but don't walk out just because it's not fun. I will be offended. Okay. Uh Jay Ross is our moderator tonight. I am Kelly Davis. I am the mayor. Okay, why are we here tonight? So we're here tonight to talk about mostly sales tax, because that's something we as a community have the most control over because that's how we generate our funding and the one of the most flexible forms of funding that we have. We can direct how it's used. Um, I'll tell you the other funding sources that we give a little that we get a little bit. Um, but the focus tonight is sales tax to discuss a little bit about how your shopping choices matter and how they affect how we get that money. Um, and then finally getting your feedback. You guys have the answers we need. You guys have lived experiences in our community, you own businesses. Oh, I wanted to ask, can I see a raise of hands, business owners who are here? Yay!