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Urbandale reviews 2026 budget draft, sets schedule for tax-levy hearings
Summary
At a Urbandale City Council work session, staff reviewed the draft FY2026 budget and tax-certification materials, described a proposed 5¢ reduction in the city—s total levy to $10.03, outlined the bond —not-to-exceed— amount, and confirmed dates for a special tax-levy hearing and the full budget hearing.
Urbandale City Council members reviewed the draft fiscal 2026 budget and tax-certification materials during a work session, and staff outlined next steps for publication and hearings.
City staff described a proposed reduction in the total levy for FY2026 and a schedule that would place a special hearing on the proposed tax levy on April 1 at 5 p.m., with the full budget hearing set for April 15, the same night as the city—s bond sale. Staff also said bond issuance documents will reflect a not-to-exceed amount of $13,280,000.
Why it matters: the council must follow state publication and county deadlines to notify property owners of proposed levy changes. Staff emphasized the limits of the published notice and said the city will provide more detailed explanation and an online calculator on the city website to help residents estimate impacts.
During the session a staff presenter said the draft taxpayer notice—quotes the city—s action: "the city will lower the total levy by 5¢ for FY 20 26 to 10 dollars and 3 cents. The reduction in rate is due to debt service levy relief provided by the city use of local option sales tax to call and retire additional bonds." That language, staff said, will appear on the state form but may not be included verbatim on the mailed notice; staff will confirm what the county prints.
Staff described the publication timeline: the city must submit its materials to the county by the fifth of the month for the county to mail notices by the 15th; based on that schedule the earliest special hearing date would be April 1 at 5 p.m. That special meeting would include only the proposed levy item, followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. when the council could set the date for the full budget hearing on April 15, the same evening staff said the city expects to complete its bond sale.
Staff noted recent changes to the state display table used in mailed notices tied to legislative action (Senate File 2442) and said they had sent a copy of the amended table to councilmembers. Staff also said the water utility will approve its budget separately and that the utility—s materials will be included with the city—s submittal to the state.
Councilmembers asked for clarification about what text will appear on mailed notices and whether the county will include the explanatory language on the mailings; staff said they would follow up with Ted Nellison at the Iowa Department of Management to confirm exactly what the county will print and would email councilmembers with the response. Staff offered to post a clearer, city-controlled explanation and an online calculator link on the city website once final numbers and text are known.
Other items discussed briefly included a $2,000 allocation toward a joint marketing effort (funded from the postal-service lobbying line item, staff said) and scheduling a presentation by the sanitary sewer district on its capital plan; councilmembers suggested a 30-minute slot at a March—11 "lunch and learn" or at an upcoming regular meeting.
Action on the meeting agenda itself was recorded: the council approved the work-session agenda by roll call.
The session concluded with staff promising to circulate follow-up answers to outstanding budget questions and to provide final drafts for council review ahead of the public hearings.
