Bettendorf holds separate public hearing as proposed property tax levy remains at $13.11; FY2026 budget $113 million

Bettendorf City held a separate public hearing April 1 on the proposed FY2026 property tax levy and budget; Finance Director Jason Shadd told the council the overall levy rate in the proposal remains $13.11 per $1,000 of taxable value and the proposed budget totals $113,000,000.

The hearing is required under a recent change in state law that mandates an additional, standalone public hearing on the levy, Mayor Robert Kallinger said. The hearing was informational only and required no council action, and no members of the public spoke on the levy during the hearing.

Shadd said the city’s proposed levy rate would not change for FY2026. “The proposed tax levy rate … remains the same in FY ’26 as it is in the current year at $13.11,” he said. He explained that a homeowner’s city tax bill depends on three factors: assessed value, the rollback percentage that determines taxable value, and the city’s levy rate. “In fact, in FY ’26, the current year, we’re taxed on about 46% of that assessed value. For FY ’26, the year that starts July 1, we’ll be taxed on just about 47% of that value,” Shadd said.

Using the city’s reported averages, Shadd said a home with an assessed value of $321,952 would see roughly a $46 increase in city taxes — about 2.4% — driven by a slight increase in the rollback percentage from 46% to 47%; the levy rate itself is unchanged. He noted that city taxes make up about 39% of a typical property tax bill and that residents will still be taxed separately by Scott County, their local school district and other taxing entities. Shadd encouraged residents to use the city’s online address calculator to see the specific city portion of their tax bill.

Shadd also said the proposed FY2026 budget preserves current service levels across departments and continues funding for six firefighters who are currently paid through a federal SAFER grant that he said is scheduled to end in about two years. The presentation stated the budget process began in February and that this was the first of two required public hearings; staff will hold a second and final public hearing on April 15 and then recommend formal adoption of the budget. If adopted, the FY2026 budget would take effect July 1 and run through June 30, 2026.

Mayor Kallinger opened and closed the public hearing and then adjourned the special hearing portion of the meeting after no public testimony was offered. No written correspondence on the levy was received before the hearing, the clerk said.

The city provided a notice and affidavit of publication for the hearing, and officials said the presentation and online calculator cover only the city portion of taxes, not county or school district levies.