Winneshiek County supervisors on Dec. 22 approved the county
ssessment and related valuation reports and spent the bulk of their meeting discussing what the numbers mean for taxpayers and county services.

County staff told the board the total taxable valuation rose about 9.52% this assessment cycle. After applying state-mandated rollbacks and statutory limits, the change translates into roughly $412,549 of additional new property tax revenue for the general fund, an estimated 6.32% increase in the county
ssessment-driven levy for that fund.

The valuation packet the board approved included utility valuations, homestead and family-farm credits, and related adjustments; Speaker 7 asked the board to approve the entire set with a single motion, which supervisors moved and seconded before a recorded vote.

Why it matters: supervisors said the valuation boost improves county cash flow but creates trade-offs for services funded through rural and supplemental funds. Speaker 7 noted that several exemptions enacted at the state levelor military and new homestead credits reduced taxable value by about $15 million compared with a no-exemption baseline, and that those changes are already reflected in the report.

Board members highlighted two near-term choices. First, the supplemental fund has fewer restrictions on how those dollars can be spent; Speaker 7 proposed withdrawing one-time funds to stabilize the county's health-insurance reserve rather than lowering the levy entirely this year. Second, the rural fund faces higher obligations because library and other rural payments are tied to taxable valuation; a roughly 6.15% rural fund increase will not cover the projected 9.33% growth in payments to the road department and libraries.

"We should consider whether to change our agreements with libraries so their annual increases are tied to the limited property-tax growth rather than full valuation increases," Speaker 7 said, urging supervisors to weigh the risk of a future ballot change to local-option sales-tax designations.

What the board did: Speaker 2 moved and Speaker 1 seconded a motion to approve the valuation reports and the board voted to adopt the staff-recommended package. Staff said additional, narrower decisions (for example, whether to amend budgets or appropriate more to specific departments) will follow in early 2026 as revenue and rollbacks are finalized.

Next steps: staff will include follow-up budget items on upcoming agendas (including possible appropriations or budget amendments) and return with options for how to use the one-time supplemental uplift while maintaining long-term sustainability.