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Black Hawk County staff outline FY2027 budget choices as property-tax collections rise 3.7% under current assumptions
Summary
County finance staff presented FY2027 projections showing a roughly 3.7% increase in total property-tax collections under current assumptions, flagged a $273,333 general levy overage and a rural fund shortfall near $103,590, and asked the board to prioritize decisions on staffing, capital funding and supplemental levies.
County finance staff led an extended FY2027 budget work session on Feb. 10, presenting property-tax scenarios, staffing-change requests, capital priorities and options to close levy gaps.
Finance staff reported that, under current assumptions, total property‑tax collections would rise about 3.7% for FY2027 and that the county faces a general basic levy overage of roughly $273,333 and a rural‑fund shortfall of about $103,590 because of statutory rate limitations and valuation changes. "Our total property tax askings now are rising 3.7%. That's kind of a significant number to think about," the finance presenter said.
Staff outlined choices for the board, including using a rural supplemental levy to shore up the rural fund, transferring fund balance for one‑time equipment purchases, adjusting staffing or delaying new positions, and examining pay‑increase scenarios (1–4 percent) to determine dollar impacts. The presentation also included capital‑funding scenarios, showing how using fund balance for capital would reduce reserves over five years if debt issuance is not used.
Supervisors asked for follow-up information, including dollar impacts of 1%, 2% and 3% pay scenarios, department-level options for 1% budget adjustments, and a clearer capital‑project list tied to five‑year plans. Staff committed to produce a schedule of options and impact figures for the next meeting.
