Pottawattamie supervisors open public hearing on proposed tax levy; residents press concerns about valuations, services and road ownership

Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors Chairman Karen Bell opened a public hearing on the county's proposed tax levy, and residents used the period to press questions about assessor valuations, unequal urban and rural levy rates, and who is responsible for private roads and water service.

The hearing matters because property taxes in Iowa are set using two steps: the assessor’s valuation and separate levy rates by taxing entity. Several residents told the board they have seen large valuation increases and said higher taxes are being charged even when they said they did not receive corresponding services such as snow removal, street maintenance or sewer service.

A resident who identified her address as 3 Prairie Hills Lane in Council Bluffs told supervisors, “We have to maintain the road ourselves. We have to do our own snow removal and things like that,” and added, “I don't understand being taxed for something that we don't receive.” The commenter said the cul-de-sac was annexed into city limits years ago and argued that the city, not the county, should provide services or accept responsibility for the private lane.

Other speakers pressed the county on differences between what the agenda packet labeled the “urban” and “rural” levy rates. George Williams said the rural rate appeared to be about 3% higher and asked why residents without city services would pay more. A county official explained that rural levies fund county services provided outside municipal boundaries — for example, county road and development programs — while people inside a city's corporate limits generally pay a city levy to finance municipal services.

Several residents described difficulty determining whether their property fell inside city limits. One speaker said a property a few dozen feet away was in the city while theirs was in the county, yet the tax rates were markedly different. A resident who identified himself as Robert Donahue said his house doubled in assessed value within a short period and that appeals to the assessor had not changed the outcome.

County staff and supervisors explained the process and limits of their authority. A supervisor noted the assessor is mandated by state code to perform revaluations at least every two years; staff and supervisors said the board does not set property valuations and instead controls only the county portion of the levy. Becky Linahan, tax and finance officer in the auditor’s office, walked through proposed levy figures and the difference between proposed and final rates.

Multiple commenters asked for clearer transparency about how levy revenue will be allocated across county services. One attendee pointed to other counties’ published, itemized budget breakdowns and asked Pottawattamie County to provide similarly accessible, year‑over‑year comparisons.

Board action during and after the hearing included a motion to postpone part of the agenda (vote recorded as ayes by the supervisors present) and later formal votes setting public hearings related to the budget and budget amendments for April 22 at 10 a.m. The board voted to set the public hearing date for fiscal year 2025–26’s budget and to set a separate public hearing date for budget amendments for fiscal year 2024–25; both motions passed.

Speakers repeatedly recommended that residents who disagree with an assessment contact the assessor’s office to request an inspection or to file an appeal. Officials also reminded residents that some grant funds or unspent grant balances will roll into general funds or cash reserves if not expended by June 30 and may be reflected in next year’s budget.

The hearing closed after more than a dozen public comments covering property valuation increases, private road maintenance, water and sewer service confusion after annexations, and requests for better public budget transparency. The board set future public hearing dates and moved to a consent agenda and other regular business.

Votes at a glance: the board voted to open the public hearing and later voted to set April 22, 10 a.m., as the public hearing date for both the FY2024–25 budget amendments and the FY2025–26 budget; a separate motion to postpone one agenda item was also approved.

The county clerk will publish the agenda and budget materials before the April 22 hearings and the auditor’s office confirmed materials are available on the state Department of Management website and through the county auditor’s office for review prior to the hearing.